Rye in East Sussex is the perfect place to put on Noel Coward’s play Blithe Spirit since it has a strong literary tradition and has been home to several famous writers, including EF Benson and Henry James. This literary heritage makes it a fitting location, appealing to an audience that appreciates classic literature and theatre. Community engagement and support for the arts in Rye was shown recently when the director, Mike Nower, had an accident and the locals rallied round to build the set. What better than the local dramatic group, Rye Players, to take on the task of performing Noel Coward’s classic?
The play is a farcical comedy that delves into the unexpected consequences of dabbling in the supernatural. The story begins with Charles Condomine, (played by Bob Steen), a successful novelist researching the occult for his next book. He invites Madame Arcati, (Venetia Sanders) an eccentric medium, to conduct a séance at his home. Charles’s second wife, Ruth, (Sara Nower), and their friends, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, (Ian Klemen and Vivienne Pattison respectively) join the séance with a mixture of scepticism and curiosity. To everyone’s surprise, Madame Arcati successfully conjures the ghost of Charles’s first wife, Elvira (Ruth Gibson).
Only Charles can see and hear Elvira, which leads to a series of humorous misunderstandings and complications. Elvira, still in love with Charles and determined to reclaim him, begins to sabotage his marriage to Ruth. Ruth initially thinks Charles is either mad or playing a cruel joke, but she eventually believes in Elvira’s presence. As Elvira’s antics escalate, Ruth becomes increasingly frustrated and desperate to find a solution. The situation culminates in a comic twist when Ruth dies in a car accident orchestrated by Elvira, hoping to reunite with Charles in the afterlife.
Instead, Ruth’s spirit also becomes trapped in the house, leading to further supernatural chaos. The play concludes with Charles seeking Madame Arcati’s help to exorcise both spirits. After several humorous attempts, Madame Arcati finally succeeds, but not before revealing the play’s underlying theme: the complexities and absurdities of relationships and the unforeseen consequences of meddling with forces beyond one’s control. Blithe Spirit is celebrated for its sharp wit, clever dialogue, and its satirical take on the pretensions and foibles of the British upper class.
The Community Centre was packed with large audiences, a testament to Rye Players who always pull in the crowds. A member of Friday night audience wrote this after the show, “The experienced ensemble kept the audience well-entertained. There was nicely judged comic timing from Laura Grove as Edith the maid, deliciously catty exchanges between the two wives and a gloriously dotty Madame Arcati to maintain the laughs throughout. The affable Bradmans brought lightness and pace to the production while the hapless Charles looked increasingly desperate to banish the wives and move on. The sensational costumes and make-up combined with top-notch tech from Del Smith and Rob Wall allowed director Mike Nower to feel very pleased to have brought this charming production to town.”
Paul Goring who is involved in ‘am dram’ was in the audience and said: “There were some very enjoyable performances here, with inventively comic performances from both Madame Acarti and Edith the maid, and a very nice contrast between the two wives: sensible, pragmatic Ruth and voluptuous, selfish (and dead) Elvira. The difficult supernatural climax at the end managed to be both comic and spooky, making several audience members jump when the bookcase fell over! It was good to see a large audience – it is important for local groups to be well-supported. Well done to all involved!”
Paul also added that Noel Coward had close connections with Rye as he was friends with Radclyffe Hall, an English poet and author, best known for the novel The Well of Loneliness, a ground-breaking work in lesbian literature, and was known to have visited her in Rye.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .