Soulpepper Theatre's 'Blithe Spirit'

 Soulpepper Theatre's final offering of the season is an effervescent production of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit. Coward's play tells of Charles and Ruth Condomine. He is a successful novelist and to research his latest mystery they invite the local clairvoyant Madame Arcati to conduct a séance.  In doing so, the medium brings back the ghost of Charles' first wife Elvira – and the fun begins. 

 Fiona Reid and Joseph Ziegler are the Condomines. He delivers the lines with a precision as if coached by Coward himself.  She is constantly able to express her unhappiness without ever becoming a shrew.

 As Elvira, the ghostly first wife, Brenda Robbins appears in a flaming red pantsuit leaving no doubt where she has been these past seven years. She is playful, mischievous, and above all has the sense of fun and passion that Charles is missing in his second marriage.

 The third lady in the household is the family maid, Edith. Melody Johnson shines in her scenes as the clumsy domestic. She literally walks into a room and starts getting laughs. It's a rather broad performance but it works in this setting.

 And speaking of broad, there is Nancy Palk's hilariously undignified medium, Madame Arcati. . This is a younger more blithe medium than we are traditionally used to seeing but it's an equally valid interpretation, and rather more believable than the dowdy Agatha Christie type actresses that have come before her in this role. Palk is young and very athletic, and even without actually seeing her on her bicycle you can easily picture it riding up the path to the Condomine estate.

 Morris Panych has staged the piece with the proper light touch. He has the performers play with earnest seriousness, and that only makes the comedy that much funnier. They believe what is happening, so we believe too. It all happens so naturally that the Panych touch, while everywhere, is nowhere to be seen. He is aided by Ken MacDonald's inventive set design that seems quite normal until flowers and books start flying about the room.

 It's a totally enchanting production, and the perfect finale for Soulpepper's 2007 season. 

Blithe Spirit continues at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts located in the Distillery district until Saturday December 15. For tickets call the box office at 416.866.866.

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