THIS SHOW HAS CLOSED

Blithe Spirit
by
Noel Coward

DRAMATIS PERSONAE Edith ...Joanne Towner Ruth ...Sara Nower Charles ...Simon Thomas Dr Bradman ...Nick Gulvin Mrs Bradman ...Jo Morrison Madame Arcati ...Helen Bence Elvira ...Angie Budd Director...Mike Nower

REVIEWS/NOTES "Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same." -- Oscar Wilde Approaching the Theatre on the Friday night, I was wondering how many punters would be in considering the fact that the parking restrictions still have not been lifted and the first play of the season can sometimes be forgotten. My fears were, I’m very pleased to say, unfounded. The newly vamped CTW was heaving! I hadn’t even had the sense to pre-buy a ticket so when I finally got to the box office, my fears were that there was less chance of me getting a seat than there was of hearing that Mrs Jack Straw had been seen wearing a veil. The one spare seat I managed to get was well placed to view the stage so for once, I struck gold. The Set As many of you know, I’m not a big fan of “realistic” sets, as they never look realistic but this one was one of the best I have seen at our second home. I especially liked the pendant lamps and the Bakelite light switches. The self destructing set was very well done indeed, I would have liked some exploding bulbs or something though. (maybe a little too presumptuous?) Well done to Mike and Sara for this. Absolutely superb. Light and Sound Once again Phil, showed us that lighting a box set need not be boring. Very natural and realistic lighting allowed us to see every part of the action while keeping the parts we shouldn’t see, in the dark. Sound (also controlled by Phil I think) was spot on and very clear. I especially liked the recorded 78” of “Always” and the timing here was first class. And so to the play itself… Apparently, Mr Coward wrote this piece sheltering from the Blitz in 6 days. Well its better than singing “Run Rabbit Run” for a week I guess. I had no idea what the story was and don’t think I have seen a Noel Coward before, so I had no pre-conceived ideas about what to expect. If you didn’t see the play either, basically, the plot goes like this. Charles Condomine has a séance where he inadvertently brings back his late wife. She is perturbed that he now has a second wife and sets about trying to set up situations whereby Charles will be reunited with her on the “other side” what happens is that Dead Wife kills off Live Wife and the two of them form a ghostly alliance and turn on poor old Charles. The Wilde quote “When a woman marries again it is because she detested her first husband. When a man marries again it is because he adored his first wife. Women try their luck; men risk theirs” obviously struck a chord to the playwright here. I wonder why?? The action is set in a drawing room and is full of the usual comings and goings of characters as does befit a typical farce. It’s been a while since Simon Thomas has had a main role and he played a blinder. His voice fitted the role perfectly and his facial expressions were terrific. He looked suitable shocked when the Dead Mrs No1 turns up and his exasperation when Ruth did not believe the Ex was back from the dead was very funny. Second Wife, Ruth was played by the Directors second wife, Sara Nower. I have only seen Sara in one play before, Abducting Diana. Sara was excellent in this very different role and her portrayal of the posh missus was very convincing. The misunderstood answers from Charles when he tried to get rid of Elvira was stuff of comic genius. I hadn’t realised that Sara has actually got legs, and I’m not sure that blond suits her too well either! Throughout the play, Dead Mrs comes and goes willy-nilly and after the initial novelty of this eventually wants to “go home”. Angie Budd, had obviously put a lot of work into this character and I especially enjoyed her voice characterisation. I think I may have detected a touch of “Queeny” from Blackadder in there as well! I liked the way she narrowly avoided other actors as if they were walking through her on stage. The character of Elvira itself was intensely annoying (as I think she was supposed to be) and I think If I had been Charles, I would have murdered her if she hadn’t have died of natural causes! The séance which brings back the late Mrs Condomine is “chaired” (is that the right word?) by Madame Arcati, played by Helen Bence. Helen took on this role very late in the day due to the original actor cast, Marion Walker, being taken ill during the run. Helen learnt this part in double quick time and whilst her performance, at times seemed a little hesitant, she should be congratulated for an outstanding performance as a convincing Happy Medium. (Sorry, couldn’t resist that one.) Two other characters in the play to complete the séance circle were Mrs Bardman played by Jo Morrison and her disbelieving Doctor husband Nick Gulvin. While both only smallish parts, they complemented the main characters on stage and fitted into the period of manners and behavior of the time very well. I guess the parts of the Bardmans are written for older actors, this said, the ensemble fitted together well. Jo took this role on well, and gave a suitably stuffy performance. On the down side, a little more sarcasm and disbelief in the afterlife from the Dr. might have filled this character out a little more. For me, Jo Towner was a gift from the Gods!. I have only worked with Jo once before and that was backstage work during Shape of Things. Her characterisation of the maid (who turns out to be the catalyst for the apparition of the Ghost(s)) was really funny. Not too over played and the decision to have her redress the set between scenes was inspired! She looked like Mrs Overall on speed! Very, very funny. Talking of Overall - Overall, I enjoyed the play immensely, but three breaks and how long?! Blimey, they liked to talk in the ‘40’s didn’t they? Next time Nowers, can we have a short one? Anyhow, Ill leave you with one more thought from the Gay Lord himself… "I've sometimes thought of marrying, and then I've thought again." Chris Piper