'Blithe Spirit' is not to be missed.
As the guest of Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s 'Blithe Spirit' opening night, I was treated to an enchanting departure from reality as I was whisked back to the 1940’s in a most humorous way.
Noel Coward, the English playwright known for his biting wit, wanted to present an evening's entertainment that was simply fun in order to relieve, for a bit, the daily tensions and terrors of WWII.
The result---'
'Blithe Spirit' is the masterful comedic tale of a writer, Charles Condomine (played by Ian Merrill Peakes), who along with his wife, Ruth (played by Peakes' enchanting and real-life wife, Karen Peakes), invites a spiritual medium, Madama Arcati, to entertain their dinner guests, the Bradmans (Carl N. Wallnau and Joyce Cohen), with a séance.
Charles has an ulterior motive for inviting the medium and his guests--- he hopes to take detailed notes on Arcati's techniques for his upcoming mystery novel.
The Condomines and the Bradmans are devout disbelievers who initially regard Arcati's wild antics as proof either of her chicanery or her insanity.
However, Madame Arcati may well prove authentic when, during the séance, the spirit of Charles’ first wife, Elvira (played by the hilarious Eleanor Handley), is released.
Unfortunately for Charles, however, only he among the disbelievers is able to see and hear Elvira, so Arcati is not the only one thought to be losing her faculties.
The cast is rounded out by Edith (played by Ally Borgstrom), the Condomine’s new, slightly unrefined maid.
With unseen mischief, mix-ups ensue and twists abound with perfect comedic timing.
I have always admired Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival not only for the exquisite acting, but also for of their dynamic technical staff.
In many productions, their minimalistic sets are enhanced and transformed by the ingenuity of their lighting designer to create each show's unique world.
There is nothing minimalistic, however, about the set for 'Blithe Spirit'. This set, designed by David P. Gordon, ranks with those of Broadway in its attention to detail, despite it simply being the living room of the Condonmine’s home.
'Blithe Spirit' plays in repertory with Taming of the Shrew now through August 7, 2016 with ticket prices ranging from $25 - $75.
For ticket information contact PSF at 610.282.WILL (9455), ext 1 or at www.pashakespeare.org.