Total Rating: 
***
Ended: 
Ended October 2006
Country: 
USA
State: 
California
City: 
San Diego
Company/Producers: 
Scripps Ranch Community Theater
Theater Type: 
Community
Theater: 
Legler Benbough Theater at USIU
Theater Address: 
10455 Pomerado Road
Phone: 
(858) 578-7728
Running Time: 
2 hrs, 15 min
Genre: 
Comedy
Author: 
Noel Coward
Director: 
Brian Salmon
Review: 

Elvira Condomine has been a Blithe Spirit for 65 years. She oozed from the pen of Noel Coward in 1941 to haunt Charles Condomine's house in Kent, England. Her current revival at Scripps Ranch Theater makes for a delightful production.

The Condomine living room is suggestively elegant due to Chris Kennedy's creative open design. Walls are suggested by glazed doors open to the rest of the estate and out to the garden and stairs leading to the upper chambers, with a hall off to the rest of the main floor.

Charles Condomine (Frank F. Remiatte) lives with his second wife Ruth (Kelly Lapczynski). They invite their friends, Dr. and Violet Bradman (John D. Culver, Jr. and Allison Wright), to join them in a bit of fun with psychic Madame Arcati (Dana Hooley). The seance is also observed by the maid Edith (Kate Hewitt).

Elvira, Charles' first wife, enters after the guests have left. Karla Francesca's Elvira is at times an imp, a temptress, and definitely has a detrimental effect on Charles' current marriage. Francesca is having way too much fun as a bit of floating ethereal plasma opening doors without touching them, scaring maid Edith into a tizzy, and angering Ruth. While Charles sees her, all others may only see a floating phonograph record, a flying flower, or hear Charles' side of a conversation with her.

Coward takes full advantage of the comedic possibilities of the plot. He also creates twists and turns upon which director Brian Salmon fashions a wonderful British parlor comedy. While Francesca gives us sly reactions and an impish demeanor, Hooley is a totally crazed, over-the-top Madame Arcati. When she goes into a trance, her body dances with itself, a garland of garlic swinging from her neck. She redefines the term eccentric. She flourishes, she faints, and she even rides her bicycle through the garden into the living room.

Lapczynski's Ruth is a dominating force in Charles' life. She is absolutely the opposite of Elvira. Where Elvira is flighty, Ruth is solid, firmly grounded. However, when stressed, her personality does a serious flip-flop into hysteria. Lapczynski is convincing in her range of emotions. Kate Hewitt's Edith is almost the predecessor to the contemporary ditzy blond. Ruth has to tell her how to walk. Hewitt brings a strange charm to this factotum.
Living in this household with these people around him, Charles becomes easily and understandably distracted. Remiatte is charming and disarming one moment and totally ill-at-ease when he first sees his lovely former wife. He easily maneuvers through the many situations and emotions facing Charles.

The special effects execution is fun with doors opening, books falling from shelves, and picture frames crashing down. Lighting designer Mia Bane has fun moments in her design. Bob May's sound works well, while Brenda Leake dresses the set elegantly.

Cast: 
John Culver, Karla Francesca, Kate Hewitt, Dana Hooley, Kelly Lapczynski, Frank Remiatte, Allison Wright
Technical: 
Set: Chris Kennedy; Scenic Artist: Rosemary King; Lighting: Mia Bane; Sound: Robert May; Props: Gloria Lagasse; Costumes: Jeannie Reith; Stage Manager: Enid Munk
Critic: 
Robert Hitchcox
Date Reviewed: 
September 2006