Review: Blithe Spirit

Resurrection Theatre presents a solid production of an old chestnut—Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit. This is old-school theater—a playful comedy of manners set in the high-society parlor of an English socialite and novelist.

It’s a good time of year for a production of Blithe Spirit, since the play revolves around séances and ghosts—which explains two local theaters staging the play during the hallowed season: Woodland Opera House and Resurrection Theatre.

The storyline and upper-crust dialogue draw us into the rather snooty world of novelist Charles Condomine (Rick Schlussel), who invites a medium into his home so he can witness a séance—a plot line he wants to include in his next book.

The séance goes awry, bringing together Charles, a wacky psychic (Robin Southworth as Madame Arcati), and Charles’ first and second wives/battling spirits (Sara Lorraine Hanson as Ruth and Sabrina Fiora as Elvira).

Resurrection Theatre gives us a handsome play—an elegant Victorian-themed set, spot-on period music and costumes, clever production elements, all supporting a skilled cast with the three women leads (Southworth, Hanson and Fiora) stealing the show. The result is throwback theater—a simple plot, kooky characters, witty humor and sharp dialogue that all equal an enjoyable evening of entertainment.