Seances lift ‘Spirit’ to comedic heights
By Lawrence Sullivan
Although written in five days during one of the darkest years of
World War II, there is no darkening of manners among the pompous
British upper-class characters of Noel Coward’s play, "Blithe
Spirit."
Poised against the mantelpiece, one hand in the double-breasted
jacket pocket, the other gesturing with a dry martini, Don Shenk
settles fastidiously but commendably into the smug role of London
novelist Charles Condomine.
Charles has invited a spiritualist, Madame Arcati, to perform a
seance at his home, hoping to get inspiration for a character in a
new novel to be entitled "The Unseen." Also to be invited are Mrs.
Condomine, Doctor Bradman (skeptical by profession) and his giddy
wife, all friends to the Condomines.
The guests have not yet arrived and Charles discusses
expectations for the evening with his wife Ruth, played daintily
but down-to-earth by Erin Donovan.
A suave comedy of gesture disguises uncomfortable jealousies. A
flattery of wits heightens simple bickering. The conversation
revolves around past romances, especially to the regards of
Charles’ voluptuous first and seven-years-deceased wife,
Elvira.
In sweeps a fluttery exuberant little middle-aged woman, the
Madame Arcati is tenderly played by Jane Hamilton. Quite out of
place in the Condomine home, her eccentricity finds its place all
the better.
Through a few more martinis, dinner and brandies, the two
couples pleasantly humor Arcati’s superstitions, premonitions and
other psychic foolery. But when the seance comes around  ha,
ha  the laugh is on you, Charles. Elvira materializes from
the dead and only Charles and the audience can see her.
Here is where the comedy begins. What director Chris Hart does
with the stage play on the unseen is often hysterical.
Ruth is at first convinced that Charles is playing games, the
next morning accuses him of being drunk and finally settles for a
more compassionate attribution of his hallucinations to the cheese
thing they had for lunch.
"Why should having a cheese thing for lunch cause me to see my
deceased wife after dinner?" Charles howls.
But the hysteria hasn’t reached its climax yet, not until things
start gliding through the air and Ruth is persuaded of Elvira’s
presence. A quirky sort of bigamy becomes the state of affairs and
the two wives vie bitterly for their common husband.
The comedy and mirth of "Blithe Spirit" is all in the ping-pong
dialogue, or shall I say trialogue: context above content. The West
Coast Ensemble cast places it well.
Yet Coward makes no mention in the play of the war being fought
off-stage. This insouciant light-hearted spirit kept it running in
London from 1941 through to the Allied victory, for 1,997 total
performances.
The original playbill announced: "If an air-raid warning be
received during the performance, the audience will be informed from
the stage. Those desiring to leave the theater may do so but the
performance will continue."
THEATER: "Blithe Spirit." Written by Noel Coward. Directed by
Chris Hart. Starring Don Shenk, Erin Donovan and Beth Taylor Hart.
Running through Dec. 11 at the West Coast Ensemble. Plays Fridays
and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. TIX: $15, student
discounts available. For info call (213)871-1052.