Blithe Spirit
Arvada Center for the Arts: 1/22 – 2/17
There are so many things that are spot on in director Rod A. Lansberry’s
production of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” one almost hates to mention its few
flaws.
Heather Lacy enchants as few can these days. She is ghostly perfection
as the apparition of Charles Condomine’s first wife, Elvira. We’re talking "Glam" here in the sense of those gorgeous female superstars of the silver screen in
the 1940’s and 50’s. Actually I was flipping back and forth from Marilyn Monroe
to Jackie Kennedy. Ms. Lacy’s work
is breathtaking. This lady needs to be a permanent fixture on the Denver stage!
Heather Lacy
Steven Cole Hughes is outstanding in his portrayal of Charles Condomine,
a gentleman who is a sort of blasé nonchalant fly caught in the exasperating
web spun by wives past and present - astral and earthly. Cole Hughes reading of
the part is exceptionally wry and every speck of Coward’s wit is deliciously
delivered.
Kate Berry’s acting is flawless! However … she is way too pretty to
be cast as Condomine’s second wife, Ruth. Such a lovely woman could never
fulfill the horsey aspect of Ruth that would satisfy the disparagingly equine
references to her in the text.
Boni McIntyre is hilarious as Edith the maid. Whether racing like a
thoroughbred just out of the gate to answer a doorbell or attempting to
decelerate this perceived inappropriate hyperactivity to a slow clip-clop
McIntyre is a hoot.
Steven Cole Hughes and Heather Lacy
Although Leslie O’Carroll is one of this reviewer’s favorite female
actors in town one regrets that she had so little time to create a more
internalized portrayal. Ms. O’Carroll stepped in at the last minute when the
previously cast actress had to step out due to illness. One admits that her
character, Madame Arcati falls into the realm of the eccentric. However… this
loud over-the-top portrayal grates more than it amuses.
Chris Campbell is a master of the art of costume design. The entire cast
is decked out just as Mr. Coward would have liked. Ms. Lacy’s ghostly gown is
of the ethereal quality that could have graced the covers of the era’s leading fashion
magazines.
The scenic design is the usual eye-popper created by Brian Mallgrave.
With it this fine artist manages two things. First he provides us as audience
with the perfect milieu for these rich upper crust Brits in which everything
fits perfectly and nothing’s out of place. Secondly as we’re driving home after
the play he makes us awfully happy we’re on our way back to homey rooms with a
certain degree of chaos in which books about the theatre are literally crawling
out of the bookcase and in which there are at least accents of colors of the
primary variety.
Jon Olson’s lighting design is celestial. The sound design by Morgan
McCauley is divine.
I think you will agree with Mr. Coward and Mr. Lansberry that you can
have heaven and hell on earth simultaneously.
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