Eclectic Full Contact Theatre Presents BLITHE SPIRIT Review – Haunted by Your Ex

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Ever heard of a stage 5 clinger? A person you’re in a relationship with who just loves you so much they want all your attention. What if that person was your ex and still in love with you? What if that same person was your dead ex-wife come back from the other side and was determined to break up your current marriage by any means necessary? In BLITHE SPIRIT, one couple finds out the hard way what could happen to a relationship that never quite died.

Eclectic Full Contact Theatre Brings the Relationship Drama

To be fair, it doesn’t seem like anybody in this house is free from drama, so it’s not all the ex-wife’s fault. Socialite and novelist, Charles Condomine (Andrew J. Pond), tries to gain inspiration for his novel by conducting a séance with the eccentric Madame Arcati (Jan Slavin). But just moments before, he and his second wife, Ruth (Maiko Terazawa), were in a light-spirited argument about if Charles liked her or his ex-wife more. It seems like that’s always been a sticking point in their relationship.

It doesn’t seem as though Madame Arcati has brought anything from the other side during the séance as the party guests look around dismayed. Suddenly, the garden doors burst open. A gust of cold air blows through the house and all the party guests shiver, feeling like something has entered the room. Charles turns on the lights, his eyes wide with fright like he’s just seen, well, a ghost. No one else can see her, but his seven years dead ex-wife has just entered the party! 

Bringing the Haunted House

Elvira (Jessica Lauren Fischer) is not the ex who would sit idly by, waiting to return to the other side. Oh no, she has appeared back in Charles’ life and will make sure everyone in the house knows it. She appears in ghostly gray, dripping in green ectoplasm (aka green scarves). As she makes herself at home she leaves these scarves everywhere she goes. As the lights come up on the stage after intermission, the stage is covered in this ectoplasm from the chairs, to the lights, to the ceiling.

The lighting (designed by Mike Wagner) also gives nod this haunting as we change from a brightly lit living room with an air of festivity, to a ghostly and gloomy chamber. They light up green as Elvira enters and gives her a dramatic entrance. Later on in the show with some black lights, they give everything an eerie glow.

Classic Coward Humor

BLITHE SPIRIT is one of those Noel Coward works that is chock full of comedic bits. As Charles tries to have a conversation with Ruth, Elvira keeps interrupting. He tries to communicate with her, forgetting he’s the only one who can hear and see her. With an ill-timed “SHUT UP” aimed at Elvira, Ruth storms off in a huff. We chuckle knowing we’re in on this miscommunication.

Madame Arcati arrives dressed to the nines in green shawls, scarves, and bangles. She takes each moment of this séance seriously, while the other guests roll their eyes and chuckle at her antics. She dances around the room, shakes a can of beans, and dramatically falls to the floor in a trance.

Though each actor has their moments of comedy, it didn’t seem sustained throughout the play, in this writer’s opinion. There are some moments of heightened energy when the cast takes a moment to exaggerate a comedic glance to the audience or they have a slapstick physical bit, but some comedic timing was lost for this writer to get the full Coward experience.

The show runs about three hours long, so for those looking for a quick comedic romp, this one might not be for you. However, if you’re a fan of Noel Coward this production of BLITHE SPIRIT might suit your tastes.

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Photos: Lena Aubrey

WHEN:

June 3 - 26, 2022

Sundays - 2pm
Fridays - 7;30pm
Saturdays - 7:30pm

WHERE:

Skokie Theatre
7924 Lincoln Ave
Skokie, IL

TICKETS:

$ 38+

For more information and tickets visit the Eclectic Full Contact Theatre website.

CAST:

Jan Slavin as Madame Arcati
Christopher John Grella as Dr. Bradman
Lisa McConnell as Mrs. Bradman
Maiko Terazawa as Ruth
Andrew Pond as Charles
Jessica Lauren Fisher as Elvira

CREATIVE TEAM:

Director: Michael Woods
Artistic Director: Andrew Pond
Casting Director: Jessica Lauren

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago.

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Alexis Bugajski

About the Author: Alexis Bugajski

Alexis is a theater reviewer, travel bug, media specialist, and burger & beer enthusiast. During the day she works in the advertising business as a senior communications designer. When night falls, or when she can escape to New York, she’s hitting the theaters to see as many shows as she can. And whenever she’s not at her desk or in the audience, she’s out seeking the best burger and beer offerings in Chicago.

Editor's Note:  Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Alexis Bugajski

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