Review: 'Blithe Spirit' at Trinity Rep

In Blithe Spirit, Charles (Fred Sullivan Jr.) loves his first wife Elvira (Phyllis Kay), who died seven years ago, at a relatively young age. He married his current wife Ruth (Angela Brazil) two years later. Elvira has decided that floating in the ether for the next 40 years without her husband is unacceptable, so when given the opportunity, she decides to have him join her. Her options for making that happen are limited to his dying. The plot is classic Noel Coward, filled with comic opportunity.

Trinity's production is visually stunning. The costumes, the scenery, the lights and special effects are all superb. James Schuettte designed Blithe Spirit's drawing-room set, his first for Trinity, and it is beautiful. There is no suspension of reality needed to believe that you are in an estate in the English countryside. From the inlaid floors to the French doors leading to the garden The set design is divine. William Lane's costume design, especially Ruth's evening gown, is inspiring.

Fred Sullivan Jr. knows funny. Sullivan knows how and where to get the laugh. He has done it with less-funny material; so keeping Noel Coward humorous is a walk in the park for him. The interaction with Phyllis Kay, who plays his late wife Ruth is classic Trinity. Sullivan and Kay fall easily into their roles, their familiarity with each other genuine. Kay channels a very-much-alive Andrea Martin into her role as Elvira.

Brazil plays a high-strung Ruth, Charles' second (and current) wife. Ruth is more than a bit un-nerved by the appearance of Elvira. As the play begins, the chemistry between Charles and Ruth is tenuous. I am left wondering why do they love each other? Do they love each other? Do they even like each other? The answers do not appear to be evident in the script, nor did they come through in this interpretation.

Barbara Meek gives a fine performance as Madame Arcati, the medium who inadvertently allows Ruth's re-entrance into Charles' life. Bicycling everywhere in her headscarves and billowy skirts, folks in the village know that Madame Arcati is eccentric, The do not, however, believe that she is a true spiritualist. Her invitation to Charles and Ruth's home was purely for the entertainment and information value, not for her psychic ability.

William Damkoehler and Cynthia Strickland and play Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, who are Charles and Ruth's neighbors and friends. Damkoelhler strikes an even handed, reassuring tone as Dr. Bradman. Strickland is a walking sight-gag, as she morphs into doughy-faced matron who wears too much, well, everything. Strickland gets a laugh nearly every time she opens her mouth.

Anna Van Valin provides more than a few humorous moments as the much put-upon maid, Edith

Directed by Trinity's Artistic Director, Curt Columbus, Blithe Spirit moves quickly through the first act, with more physical humor, and less verbal sparring than I expected. As the second act winds down, the story sputters a bit. The cast plows through and the slow moments are soon forgotten. Trinity's production of Blithe Spirit is completely entertaining, a marvelous evening of escapism theater.