Blithe Spirit
by Noël Coward
16/05/13 - 25/05/13
Venue: The Forum Studio Theatre
Charles Condomine, a successful novelist, wishes to learn about the occult for a novel he is writing, so he arranges for an eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at his house. At the séance she inadvertently summons Charles's first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years. Only Charles can see or hear Elvira; his second wife, Ruth, does not believe that Elvira exists. The ghostly Elvira makes continued, and increasingly desperate, efforts to disrupt Charles's current marriage, finally sabotaging his car in the hope of killing him so that he will join her in the spirit world although - predictably - things do not go entirely to plan! It takes a further visit from Madame Arcati to try to calm our restless spirits down as events take one riotous turn after another and threaten to spiral hilariously out of control.
With memorable characters and witty dialogue Coward's much loved play is described as 'an improbable farce' - imagine 'Poltergeist' crossed with 'Fawlty Towers' and you won't be too far off capturing the spirit (whoops!) of Mark Newman's new production.
Cast
Charles Condomine - Bill Robertson
Ruth Condomine - Jane Chance
Elvira Condomine - Sally Dillon
Madame Arcati - Marian Newman
Dr Bradman - Ray Bengree
Mrs Bradman - Pat Pearce
Edith - Annie Howe
Production team
Director - Mark Newman