Noel Coward’s Spirited British Comedy Conjures Wartime Specters

by Lynne Stevens

“Blithe Spirit” premiered in 1941, during the World War II Blitz, when the Nazis dropped bombs on London. Noel Coward’s play lifted the spirits of wartime theater goers. Coward again provides a much-needed escape from the chaos of today.

This farcical British comedy uses vaudeville banter and misunderstanding to stir the pot of the battle between the sexes. Wearing an elegant tuxedo, debonair Malcolm Rodgers plays Charles Condomine, a mediocre novelist searching for inspiration for his latest book.

To supply inspiration, Charles’s second wife, Ruth (Jessica Powell), has invited their friends, the Bradmans, to dinner. She has also planned a séance to be conducted by local spiritualist Madame Arcati (delightfully daffy Tori Truss).

Eccentric Arcati makes her entrances and exits by bicycle and appears to be a vegetarian, given the number of cucumber tea sandwiches she can eat. As Arcati, Truss steals the show. Absurd yet honest, she admits she doesn’t always remember the right formula to bring forth someone from the ‘Other Side.’

Charles and Ruth seem unafraid of death, and they casually discuss Charles’ deceased first wife Elvira. Fishing for compliments, Ruth is pleased to hear that Elvira was not perfect.

The characters down quite a bit of gin! No teetotalers among them. Even Madame Arcati enjoys a dry martini with the dinner party. They also smoke a lot of cigarettes. No one was concerned about cancer then, I guess. Not with bombs dropping everywhere.

To set the mood, Arcati plays the song “Always” to conjure a ghost. Charles is alarmed because “Always” was special for him and Elvira. For Arcati’s séance, designers Frank Sarrubi and Nathan Abrams get creative with blinking lights, opening/closing doors, and jiggling tables. Director David Abrams weaves it all into an exciting otherworldly adventure.

At the séance, Charles sees Elvira’s ghost (saucy Ashley Garlick), and he scolds her; but Ruth thinks he’s scolding her and becomes incensed. The titillating sexual innuendoes begin to flow, as Ruth becomes angrier. Their banter is tame and light compared to the displays we are treated to in today’s theater.

A well-placed cushion, perfectly timed, lets us know that even as a ghost, Elvira still has an arousing effect on him. The maid knows something, but it isn’t clear until the end what she has seen. The surprising spiritual events eventually produce two ghosts who join forces. Their ghostly attacks from the’ Other Side’ produce another kind of Blitz at Condomine’s stately country home in Kent.

With Director Abrams’ swift pacing, the actors shine and deliver lines that could sound forced if they didn’t have such snappy timing. The play runs two and a half hours with two intermissions, so you may want to sample the offerings at their sweet concessions counter.

As a comedy, “Blithe Spirit” evokes gentle chuckles and knowing smiles, bringing simple satisfactions. I highly recommend a real-life encounter with the blithe spirits at Ross Valley Players.

“Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward, directed by David Abrams, set design by Tom O’Brien, sound by Bruce Vieira, costumes by Valera Coble, lighting by Frank Sarubbi, artist/properties by Dhyanis, & special effects by Nathan Abrams—at Ross Valley Players, Ross, California.

Info: rossvalleyplayers.com – to December 15, 2024.

Cast: Lizzy Bies, Amy Dietz, Ashley Garlick, Piper Gilmore, Robert Molossi, Jessica Powell, Malcolm Rodgers, and Tori Truss.

Banner photo: Amy Dietz, Malcolm Rodgers, Tori Truss, Jessica Powell, & Robert Molossi. Photos by Robin Jackson