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Blithe Spirit

Review

Two performers stand supreme in HumDrum's production of Noel Coward's wartime comedy – a spirit-raiser in two senses.

The fear was that Sally Evans would go way over the top as Madame Arcati, the happy medium who raises the ghost of Charles Condomine's first wife. But every time the actress threatens to over-act, she pulls herself back.

That still allows her to be gruff and garrulous, to enunciate fiercely, to hop, skip and jump, and to sniff the stage like a rabbit seeking the juiciest carrot.

Yet even Ms Evans has to yield the honours to Anneka Wass, recruited from the University of Portsmouth to play first wife Elvira before going to the prestigious Guildford School of Acting.

She floats and shimmers rather than walking the stage. Gemma Valler, directing for the first time, has done a good job, although the first half lacked fizz on the first night and was marred by one serious hiatus.

That, it appears, was not Sean Fisher's fault. He gives a solid performances as Charles, rising to greater heights as the dissection of both his marriages gathers.

Mike Allen - The News