| Blithe Spirit | Watford Palace Theatre 24 May - 16 June 2007 |
When you think of Noel Coward, you think of a bygone age. A time of plumby accents and cucumber sandwiches, which is why when you actually see a production, like Blithe Sprit at the Watford Palace, it is amazing to realise just how funny, and in some ways modern, he can be. You think you will be laughing at the way the characters speak and their dated ideas but instead it’s recognition. For even though the aforementioned luncheon item is ubiquitous, and the fabulous art deco type set designed by Colin Falconer and beautiful period costumes, made by the Palace’s ever talented wardrobe department, both made you think of the 1940s, the wit and wisdom of this classic comedy doesn’t really seem to have dated much at all.
 | | Blithe Spirit |
The story centres on writer Charles Condomine, who decides to invite a psychic to dinner in order to get material for his latest novel, thinking that it will all be an elaborate scam. But, despite the scepticism of Charles, his wife Ruth and their guests Dr and Mrs Bradman, medium Madame Arcati manages to conjure up the spirit of Charles' dead first wife Elvira during a séance. And then the fun begins, as an increasingly desperate Charles, and even more frantic Ruth, try to work out how they can send the spirit back to the other side. I guess part of the play’s timelessness is also to do with the fact that Coward wrote it during the darkest time of the Second World War and it was first performed in 1941 in London during some of the worst of its Blitz and yet the horrors of that conflict are not mentioned once. Instead, at a time when death was all around, Coward seems to be standing up to it, saying that you don’t really die at all but are only on the other side of a metaphorical fence. That image, plus the wonderfully funny word play and interaction between the characters, must have been a huge comfort to audiences at the time. No wonder it was, and still is, so popular. There’s also the interest that we have in spirituality that seems to have grown over the years, we still talk about mediums, psychics and ghosts and whether or not they actually exist, probably even more so than in the 40s. So if you think that Coward should be merely consigned to a different time, think again and get yourself down to the Palace where a talented cast are conjuring up real spirit, and loads of laughter, in their roles. Emma Cleasby makes a wonderfully playful Elvira, combining both sex appeal with childlike tantrums, while Tessa Churchard’s Ruth is the perfect foil, cool and sharp, and not putting up with any nonsense at first but with a wonderful sense of humour that makes her not as cold as the part is sometimes portrayed and the role is all the better for it. Her comic timing as she broke down was spot on. Simon Dutton as man in the middle Charles is dashing, and it’s easy to understand how both women fell for him. His transformation from shocked, to almost pleased, to frustrated and then angry are all beautifully played.
 | | Blithe Spirit |
Becky John makes the most of the maid's part with some well-worked comedy business and Robin Hooper and Penelope Beaumont are convincing as the other couple caught up in the drama, roles I assume that were put in to have a doctor on hand to try and explain away strange happenings. Aicha Kossoko as Madame Arcati is wonderfully eccentric with huge gestures and a voice to match, she us utterly believable to a modern audience while at the same time she is quite silly – perhaps that’s why she still seems so real in the 21st century! The set is also a star of the show and takes over the action in the final scene for which the stage crew should be congratulated! The Watford Palace have produced yet another highly entertaining night at the theatre. The way in which Charles is dominated by all the women in his life may, or may not, reveal what Coward thought about matrimony and women but I tried not to look into it too deeply and enjoy it for what it was – classic comedy. This is quite simply classic English comedy that is sure to brighten your day today, just as it did for its first audiences in the dark days of the early forties. | 
