By Sabina Clarke
Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit which made its debut at London’s Piccadilly Theatre in 1941 is one of Coward’s greatest works. The Walnut Street production directed by Bernard Havard President and Producing Artistic Director captures the spirit of Coward brilliantly in this rollicking sophisticated drawing room comedy with so many surprising twists and turns. It is a night of pure entertainment and high farce that will transport you to another world—the 1940’s of the British upper class with all its pomposity, charm and endearing pretensions. The show closes July 3rd.
The staging is perfect as are the costumes: the t-straps shoes and 1940’s hairdos on the women, the suspenders on Charles Condomine’s pants, the Edwardian deference and the period costume of the maid and the abrupt end to any personal conversation when she entered the room serving tea—all accurately seamless details.
Ian Peakes is sensational in the role of Charles Condomine. He delivers a brilliant nuanced performance as the beleaguered husband caught in the middle of a contest between two wives—his frustrated second wife Ruth very effectively portrayed by Karen Peakes and the ghost of his deceased first wife Elvira portrayed by Alicia Roper who delivers a strong performance with a dash of wit.
Mary Martello in the role Madame Arcati drew an enthusiastic response from the audience at curtain call. She was certainly effective as the batty eccentric seer and expended a great deal of physical energy romping all over the stage. So she did not disappoint in capturing that aspect.
But the lightness, the wit, the grace, the sophistication and the subtlety of Noel Coward were totally embraced in the movements, expressions, gestures and delivery of Ian Peakes as Charles Condomine the star.
Coward would have loved his performance.