In Noel Coward’s BLITHE SPIRIT Matt Day plays Charles Condomine, a novelist who’s recently married his second wife Ruth after the tragic death of his first, Elvira. In the hopes of gathering some material for his new book, Charles invites eccentric medium Madame Arcati to his house. The couple and their droll friends expect on a lark, and perhaps a few cheap scares. But the ritual goes terribly awry when Elvira, the ghost of Charles’ first wife suddenly makes an appearance.
Now if the great Viennese psychiatrist Sigmund Freud had seen the play he would no doubt have come up with the conclusion that the ghost was in Charles’ head and would have laid him on his couch to work through his issues.
Rather than the drama that Freud would create, out of his scenario he has created one of the great comedies of the twentieth century.
Coward deftly includes Hamlet’s famous ‘lecture’ to his best friend Horatio; ‘there is more to heaven and earth than dreamt of in your philosophy ‘ gently playing with us to believe that just maybe the upcoming seance may be part of the natural world more than just hocus-pocus.
Matt Day plays Charles Condamine, the main character who sees the chaotic action come at him from all sides. In one of the plays main scenes he finally gets to prove to Ruth that Elvira is not just a figment of his imagination when her convinces Elvira to move a vase across the room.
Courtney Act played Elvira Condamine, the ghost of Charles’ wife. It was a fine comic performance though I was irritated by her regularly opening up her gown and ‘flashing’. In such a glorious play, this ‘choice’ just came across as overdone and crass.
Bessie Holland was hilarious as the snooty, control freak Ruth Condamine as was Megan Wilding as the harassed maid Edith who passively aggressively yields to Ruth’s every whim.
Brigid Zengeni was brilliant as psychic Madame Arcati, one of the great comic roles, a role reminiscent of another outlandish character, Victor Valesco in Neil Simon’s Barefoot In The Park.
Tracy Mann was excellent in the cross gender role of Dr Bradman. David Fleischer’s costume design for this character were particularly excellent.
Nancy Denis played Mrs Bradman who is a little dominated by her husband.
The creative team is headed by the Sydney Theatre Company’s Associate Director Paige Rattray comic touch is sure and the pacing and timing are excellent.
David Fleischer’s set and costume design are of a high standard as are Damien Cooper’s lighting deisgn, Damien Cooper’s lighting design, Clemence Williams sound design and score, and the lovely touches by magic and illusions consultant Adam Mada.
I have read Sheridan Morley’s biography of Noel Coward entitled A Talent To Amuse. His talent was at his height with this genius of a play receiving a dynamic reworking by Rattray.
Recommended, STC’s BLITHE SPIRIT Is playing the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House until 14 May 2022.
Featured image : Brigid Zengeni in ‘Blithe Spirit’ at the Sydney Opera House. Pic by Prudence Upton
