Blithe Spirit at Salisbury Playhouse Review
Adam Jackson-Smith, Michael Cusick, Fiona Tong, Gabriella Foley, Susan Wooldridge, Jenny Rainsford in Blithe Spirit. Photo by Pamela Raith
Written by Charlotte for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This performance contains comedic references to death and attempted murder, depictions of ghosts, some coarse language and sudden noises.
When it comes to iconic British playwrights, Noël Coward is definitely up there among the greats. Since having the pleasure of seeing the National Theatre Live recording of Present Laughter (starring Andrew Scott) a few years ago, Coward’s work instantly became something I had to see on stage — and Wiltshire Creative’s Blithe Spirit was an excellent place to start.
One night, novelist Charles Condomine and his wife Ruth invite eccentric medium Madame Arcati for dinner and a séance so he can gather character inspiration for the kooky character in his new book. Things start off light with their silent mocking of Arcati — but the night takes an unexpected turn when they conjure up the ghost of Charles’ first wife Elvira, and they land them in an unlikely love triangle with a huge dose of havoc and mayhem in the process.
Mischievous, farcical comedies are something that can either be done badly or incredibly well, and Wiltshire Creative have proven themselves time and time again that their productions comfortably fall into the latter. With lightning fast dialogue and impeccable comic timing, this adaptation hooks you right from the first scene. While some performances, at least on this particular night, felt stronger and tighter than others, the whole cast are hilarious and truly believable in their distinct character portrayals.
The biggest gems of the cast though are Adam Jackson-Smith (Charles Condomine) and Jenny Rainsford (Ruth Condomine), whose relationship feels so genuine it’s as if the audience really are a fly on the wall in their home. They are a complete joy to watch as their witty banter descends into utter chaos as the events unfold and their comfortable relationship is tested to the limit.
The other highlight is the intricately decorated set, brought to life by veteran designer Terry Parsons whose work has spanned no less than 37 West End productions. You can see the expertise and craft that has gone into every single facet of the design, and the result is breathtaking as the curtain lifts to reveal it. It’s almost worth going just for the set alone!
If you like a fast-paced comedy with a genius script brought to life with loveable characters, charming performances, and beautiful set design, then this is definitely the production for you.
See it at Salisbury Playhouse until 25th October and Grand Theatre Blackpool from 28th October to 1st November.
★ ★ ★ ★
