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Blithe Spirit
By Noel Coward
Directed by David Mink
Produced by Oak Park Festival Theatre
At the Historic Pleasant Home
Home & Pleasant
Oak Park, IL
Call 708-445-4440, tickets $17 - $27
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 4 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 50 minutes with two intermissions
Through April 27, 2008
Wit, humor, and mayhem fuel Noel Coward classic
Noel Coward’s 1941 drawing room comedy of manners, Blithe Spirit, played in war torn London for a record 1997 consecutive performances. It is a tightly written, smart spoof of death and mediums. Coward lets his view of women as either sexual predators or coldly controlling figures come across in the women of Blithe Spirit.
When the urbane English author, Charles (Jack Hickey), asks a medium to hold a séance after a dinner party, he gets more than mere research material for his next book. His first wife, Elvira (Katherine Keberlein) returns only to be seen by him. We meet his cold, shrill and quite bossy wife, Ruth (Christine Stulik) who clearly dominates Charles. As a second wife, she can’t help but wonder if she has all of Charles’ love. Dr. Bradman (Brian Simmons) and his dominant shallow wife (Kimberly Logan) witness the séance to offer support and a healthy dose of skepticism. The wacky young maid, Edith (Rebecca Cox) runs energetically toward all her assignments.
The tale gets dicey when the medium, the flamboyant Madame Arcarti (the hilarious Connie Anderko) facilitates the séance. She mumbles, bumbles and goes into a trace as she makes a fervent pitch to reach “the other side.” The guests are entertained but only Charles is stunned. He now has his sexy first wife here causing him fits. Noel Coward’s clever dialogue causes Charles and Ruth to become estranged. Since only Charles can see Elvira, when he answers Elvira’s comments, Ruth believes he is talking to her. Elvira will not leave and she plots to have Charles for eternity. The mayhem gets wilder when both wives end up in the house as ghosts. Can Madame Arcarti save Charles from madness? Or will Charles end up free from the confinements of two wives? Coward deftly solves all.
This light-weight, well-acted and nicely staged show works expertly under David Mink’s tight direction at the National Landmark mansion at Pleasant Home in Oak Park. Blithe Spirit is filled with fine high English accents and articulate actors. Jack Hickey effectively anchors the show with fine performances form Christine Stulik and Connie Anderko. This show has enough laughs to satisfy.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2008
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