Blithe Spirit

Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit is traditionally a favourite of the community theatres, so it was somewhat unexpected to see it on Black Swan's 2015 season announcement, although as a clear audience favourite, it is perhaps not so surprising.

Also unexpected was the sudden illness of actress Roz Hammond, scheduled to play Madam Arcarti. Her inability to perform, after the first preview, necessitated bringing Alison Van Reeken, having received the role just a couple of days earlier, was still (occasionally) referring to her script on opening night, yet crafted Madam Arcarti beautifully, giving a lovely warmth and humanity to the dotty local medium.

Protagonists Charles and Ruth Condamine were a nicely paired Adam Booth and Adriane Daff, who delivered genuine performances while being nicely Cowardesque. Michael Loney and Michelle Fornasier (Doctor and Mrs. Bradman) created convincing characters with lovely comic timing.

Jo Morris was excellent as the ethereal Elvira - very acid and funny, while Ella Hetherington brought lovely physical presence and comedy to Edith the maid.

Bryan Woltjen's costumes are both beautiful and set the era, while his deliberately mythic set departs from the conventional to use the spacious Heath Ledger Theatre stage to full effect; (although I am still not sure about some of the elements). Jon Buswell's lighting gave a wonderful sense of the passing of time, as well as adding supernatural flair.

Ash Gibson Greig's sound design and composition is highly creative and very clever, beautifully atmospheric, combining nods to Coward with lovely surprise elements.

A well performed production that should attract and delight audiences. A good 'bums on seats' production for Black Swan.

Kimberley Shaw

Imags: (top) Adam Booth, Ella Hetherington and Adriane Daff & (lower) Michelle Fornasier, Adam Booth, Adriane Daff and Michael Loney. Photographer: Gary Marsh.