Arizona Theatre Company's Blithe Spirit at Herberger Theatre
(out
of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
(out
of )For some reason, famed British playwright Noel Coward has fallen into the ranks of the rarely produced here in America. His sharp, ascorbic wit and his disdain for deep, gut-wrenching subjects has tended to give him the unfortunate moniker of "glib." While it's true that his plays tend to be parlor comedies about the upper-crust of Britain from the twenties to the forties, the fact remains that, when done well, they are highly entertaining, fast-paced and frenetic, while still retaining a touch of the stiff upper lip that his station and subjects called for. If you're unsure that Mr. Coward's plays have survived the theatrical and social revolutions that have occurred since actors originally trotted the boards and entertained audiences around the world with his light hearted, yet occasionally pointed dialogue, then you must see Arizona Theatre Company's offering for the UK/AZ Festival, Blithe Spirit, to be assured that when the right amount of talent and funding is made available for a production, then Mr. Coward blows away even Neil Simon's best.
The story, one of Mr. Coward's darker plays (written just after his loft had been bombed out during the London Blitz of '41), centers on Charles and Ruth Condomine. Mr. Condomine is a successful novelist, while his second wife, Ruth, is a stiff but sociable housewife. Each of them are widowers, having lost their first spouses at a young age. Charles invites Madame Arcati and another couple to an evening where he intends to have the odd Arcati give a seance, since he is researching a mystery novel with a charlatan soothsayer as the lead. Unfortunately, Madame Arcati is not as much of a charlatan as everyone believes, and conjures up the spirit of Charles' first wife, the selfish and spoiled Elvira. Hilarious wildness ensues, with surprising plot twists and disastrous results aplenty.
Guest director Gary Gisselman, in his triumphant return to ATC where he was Artistic Director from 1980 to 1991, has done a perfect job of pacing the entire proceedings, allowing the performers to sparkle through the witty dialogue and hilariously improbable situations. His use of the standard blocking expected in all of Mr. Cowards plays does not seem unoriginal or contrived, but instead makes the evening flow like a bone dry martini.
All of the performances, save one, were top notch. Most spectacular was the hilarious performance of Claudia Wilkens as Madame Arcati, whose mixture of mystic and no-nonsense British dame was a perfect blend. Dead on portrayals also come from Kurt Rhoads as the beleaguered Charles, Nance Williamson as the childish Elvira, and Sally Jo Bannow as the nervous maid Edith. Also solid in their smaller roles were Benjamin Stewart and Maedell Dixon as the stuffy couple who take part in the wacky proceedings.
The only disappointing portrayal, slight as it was, came from Katherine Leask as the stiff second wife, Ruth. Ms. Leask portrayed more charicature than character, not consistent with the rest of the cast. She still delivered her hilarious lines with a perfect deadpan, despite not being at the level of the others.
Many kudos go to Tom Butsch for his spectacular scenic design, which is both visually stunning and fittingly functional. Also impressive were Dennis Parichy's lighting and Deborah J. Edelman's costumes, which enhanced the nature of the performance.
Arizona Theatre Company has the resources and talent pool to
make an impressive evening of theatre. Their choice to put up
Noel Coward where they would ordinarily have mounted a Shakespeare,
in light of the many performances of the Bard for the UK/AZ Festival,
is a wise and enjoyable one. Mr. Coward's plays may have fallen
into an inexplicable obscurity over recent years, but that only
allows their rediscovery to be even more entertaining, as their
sharpness has remained constant, even if our memory has not.
Production Details:
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
Herberger Theatre, Phoenix
256-6995 or 252-8497
October 10th-October 26th, 1997