NODA said:
ALVECHURCH DRAMATIC SOCIETY
BLITHE SPIRIT
WRITTEN BY NOEL COWARD
ALVECHURCH VILLAGE HALL
11th APRIL 2019Blithe Spirit was written in six days in 1941 when Noel Coward was on a trip to North Wales. He wrote, “Beyond a few typographical errors I made no corrections and only two lines of the original script were ultimately cut.”The play opened in Manchester and transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre, London opening on 02 July 1941. Running for 1,997 performances and out lasting World War Two. It held the record for number of performances in the West End until overtaken by The Mousetrap.
With such a track record it is not surprising that Blithe Spirit remains a popular choice with theatre groups to this day.
As always, the front of house staff were part of the scene setting from the very start dressed either in DJ’s as if due to attend the dinner party about to be portrayed or as a maid.The tabs opened to reveal a well-furnished living room. The set was sufficiently sturdy to withstand the frequent door opening and closing with the large French windows (play an important part in the play) upstage centre.
The cast of seven all worked well together in what is a ‘wordy’ play. On opening we see Edith played by Rosie Pring. Rosie played the part of the unassuming (always working at the double) maid well. Not until the end does Coward’s wonderful play let us know more about Edith and her importance to the plot.
Charles (Martin Salter) is rarely off the stage and has a lot of script to remember. Martin achieved the demands of the play as he got more frustrated with initially one and then two ghosts living within the house. He was supported well by Jo Bestwick as Ruth as the second wife. Craig Osborne as Doctor Bradman and Emma- Lousie Hodgson as Mrs Bradman knew their characters and carried these off managing to extract some of the humour the script demands.
The iconic role in the play is Madame Arcati. In the 2014 West End revival this was played by Angela Lansbury but is widely accepted as being most famously portrayed by Margaret Rutherford. The characterisations of Sue Resuggan resembled those of this most famous actress! It was however Leah Yendell as Elvira who really shone in the production. She had a lovely stage presence and made the most of all her lines especially her dislike for Ruth, the taunting the script calls for and her delight with some of her indiscretions when married to Charles.
Attending on opening night to a packed and appreciative audience the play was well staged, and I am sure the occasional delay on picking up on cues would have speeded up the following evening.
Once again thank you to all at Alvechurch Dramatic Society, it is always good to see members of the society. I look forward to your next production in 2019.