Blithe Spirit

Published Thursday 31 May 2007 at 15:30 by Victoria Chow

The spectacular period set of Watford Palace’s production of Blithe Spirit is a fitting surrounding for the talented cast that do justice to Noel Coward’s masterpiece.

Simon Dutton heads the cast as Charles Condomine. In early scenes with his second wife, Ruth (Tessa Churchard), it is almost like watching a 1930s film, so true to the period are the details of set and costume.

Later, when his first wife Elvira (Emma Cleasby) appears as a ghost only Charles can see, the script requires clever direction and perfect timing to ensure that the full comedy potential of the situation is realised. Director Matthew Lloyd and his cast manage this difficult task flawlessly.

Special mention must also go to Aicha Kossoko as medium Madame Arcati. Given permission by the script to go wonderfully over-the-top, she does so with style and excellent comic timing.

The set, designed by Colin Falconer, is decorated in flesh-coloured tones of beige and cream. When the ghost Elvira arrives, beautifully adorned in a flesh-coloured tea dress, with pale skin and hair, she seems truly ethereal. Sound effects and a wonderful destruction of the set by unseen hands at the end are added bonuses.

It would be difficult to perform such a wonderful play badly. However, the cast and production team at the Watford Palace have excelled with this production - easily the best the theatre has seen since it reopened in 2004.