BWW Reviews: BLITHE SPIRIT at Everyman Theatre - Noel Coward Comedy Ends a Tremendous Season

Everyman Theatre's presentation just prior to BLITHE SPIRIT was entitled GHOSTS, which featured no ghosts. But they do appear in Noel Coward's comedy BLITHE SPIRIT, directed by Artistic Director Vince Lancisi.

When I first saw Beth Hylton portraying a ghost, I was immediately reminded of two famous Hollywood films. The first was "Topper", a 1937 film about a bored banker, Cosmo Topper, who is the only individual who can see the ghosts of George and Marion, a funny couple who died in a car crash. Cary Grant played George. In 1953, Leo G. Carroll played the lead in the television version, "Topper" which lasted two years and starred Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffries. I still have fond memories of this classic series.

Then there was the 1944 Pulitzer Prize winning play HARVEY about a man who is the only one able to see a huge rabbit. Jimmy Stewart starred in the 1950 film.

Could Noel Coward have based his play on the "Topper" film from 1937? He wrote BLITHE SPIRIT in 1941 in just five weeks during the blitz of London during World War II. Six weeks after he wrote it, it opened at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End and five months later it became a hit on Broadway. No doubt, audiences were delighted to have a diversion from war.

Recently Angela Lansbury spearheaded a Broadway revival that recently played in Washington, DC. Her character, Madame Arcati, is an integral part to make this play succeed. Lancicsi didn't have to go far to find the superb Nancy Robinette, a veteran of the area's various venues, to play this character and she nails her part as the leader of a séance that author Charles Condomine (played by the incomparable Bruce R. Nelson) hires to get information for his latest novel. Her exercises she uses to prepare herself to bring back the voices of the departed are hysterical.

Condomine first wife Elvira (played by the hilarious Beth Hylton) is conjured up during the séance. As in TOPPER and HARVEY, Elvira is only visible to Charles (and the audience). Condomine's second wife Ruth (the talented Megan Anderson) must deal with this predicament and becomes insanely jealous of her husband's infatuation with his ex-wife. Adding to the fun are a couple Charles invited to the séance, Dr. Bradman (Carl Schurr in a role that is too small for his talent) and his wife (played by the always enjoyable Helen Hedman).

While I found Act I a little slow, the second act does not skirt some interesting issues and moves forward briskly. The special effects, thanks to the wonderful work of Lewis Shaw, and the clever set by Daniel Ettinger add to the enjoyment. Lancisi moves the time of the play from World War II to the '20s so the delicious costumes by David Burdick may remind one of the television hit series "Dowton Abbey". Wait till you see the gorgeous pajamas worn by Ruth.

Playing the Condomine's maid is the delightful Julia Brandeberry but I wonder if the script insists she behave like the "road-runner" when she answers the call of her superiors.

BLITHE SPIRIT continues until June 28. For tickets, call410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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