Blithe Spirit
- a play by Noël Coward
Director: Miranda Nicholls
Charles Condomine, an author whose first wife Elvira has been dead for seven years, has been reasonably happy with his second wife Ruth. To collect material for his new book, he invites Madame Arcati, a local medium, to conduct a séance at their home. Unfortunately, Elvira returns from death and promptly proceeds to make life exceedingly uncomfortable for Charles. As Elvira is visible and audible only to Charles, he has great difficulty convincing Ruth that he is neither mad nor drunk! Elvira is wilfully determined to get Charles to herself forever and so arranges several ‘accidents’, culminating in her tampering with his car. Ironically, it is Ruth who drives first and joins her rival. Now plagued by two jealous squabbling spirits, Charles enlists the help of Madam Arcati, who finally disembodies the spirits but cannot quite exorcise them. Charles bids them farewell, saying he will escape forever by putting water between himself and his two wives, who are left petulantly tearing the house apart!
This is a funny, witty, wordy play with good clear characterisation and wonderful dialogue. Noel Coward wrote it in 1941, to help the public escape from the horrors of the first Blitz. “People must laugh. I have got an idea and must get on with it as soon as possible”, he said. He rented a house in Portmeirion, an ideally peaceful setting, where he was able to write and sleep undisturbed by bombs. Blithe Spirit was written in just five days! There was as little delay as possible in casting, rehearsing and producing Blithe Spirit. On the first night the audience were forced to do the last part of their journey on foot as there was a large bomb crater outside the front of the Piccadilly Theatre, where the play started to fulfil the author’s wish to make people laugh. Sixty-three years later, Blithe Spirit is still fresh and as entertaining as ever.
Cast:
Madame Arcati Katharine Brown
Charles John Deardon
Ruth Suzanne Deardon
Elvira Laura
Ellis
Dr Bradman Richard Goodall
Mrs Bradman Anne Goodall
Edith Rachel Fyles
