The veil is thinnest near Halloween, and through it, Noël Coward’s haunting play Blithe Spirit has returned with a bewitching ensemble. Coward’s razor-sharp 1941 comedy blurs the boundaries between the living and the dead, the dignified and the ridiculous. In keeping with British propriety, I arrived at Gunston Theatre Two in a modest black dress, my evil-eye necklace tucked underneath, ready for mischief.
Novelist Charles Condomine (Eric Kennedy) invites a medium to his home as research for a book about a fraudulent psychic. Even before the arrival of the mystical Madame Arcati (Meghan Williams Elkins), the memory of his first wife, Elvira (Mary Rodrigues), haunts his second marriage with Ruth (Fosse Thornton). The pair engage in a battle of wits, the usual manner of conflict between Coward’s characters. Prompted by Ruth’s green-eyed curiosity, Condomine compares his wives, admitting Elvira’s superior sensuality but lamenting her moral untidiness, unlike Ruth, whose “good breeding” and stiff-upper-lip bring peace to their lives. They are joined by the honorable Dr. Bradman (Stephen Wheeler) and his chirpy wife, Mrs. Bradman (Karey Hart), who want in on the amusement of Madame Arcati’s seance, which they all believe to be a farce. Yet, it is their marriage that becomes a farce when Elvira returns as a poltergeist.
In his memoir, Graham Payne quotes Coward describing Blithe Spirit as a heartless play: “You can’t sympathise with any of them. If there was a heart it would be a sad story.” This vital lack of sentimentality relies on tongue-in-cheek performances. I applaud the cast for their humorous, lively renditions of Coward’s beloved characters.
Kennedy’s elastic movements could portray the smugness of a debonair writer or the anxious agitation of a henpecked husband with just his eyebrows. He sparked chemistry with both actresses portraying Ruth and Elvira, whose contrasting energies might have thrown off a less experienced leading man. A stiff demeanor and sharp delivery characterized Thornton’s Ruth. Her head swiveled in displeasure as she spewed icy commands, while her body remained in perfect placement — hands folded, ankles crossed — the very picture of composure. Rodrigues as Elvira was more spectacle than spectre. She flitted through the second act, pouty-faced, fingers wiggling. Her performance in Act Three maintained its necessary silliness but grew more grounded, revealing Elvira’s earthy side.
To don the beads and scarves of Madame Arcati is coveted by many actors. Elkins wears the character like a well-fitted kimono jacket, whose jewels reflected glittering lights across the dark floor that followed her around like little spirits. She acted on the tips of her toes, gesticulating each line to its fullest, throwing herself into frenzies and songs. “Away with melancholy,” she cried, and away it went as the crowd became uproarious with laughter.
Blithe Spirit is Alden Michels’s directorial debut with Dominion Stage. Best known for his work as an actor and dialect coach, Michels must have felt at home working with the varied English accents and funky inflections this play demands. Each character’s voice skillfully reflected their apparent selves. Ruth, whom Elvira teased for “not seeing past the end of her nose,” spoke in a nasal tone, pitched high in her throat. Dr. Bradman spoke low, staying deep in his chest to produce a sensible and decisive voice, perhaps to protect the vulnerable skeptic within. This attention to detail showcases Michels’s experience with the vocal aspects of the performing arts, extending well beyond musicals.
A play like Blithe Spirit cannot be fully realized without a hard-working tech crew orchestrating blink-and-you’ll-miss-it lighting effects along with spine-chilling cues that give the audience a taste of the other realm. The set had a campier aesthetic than I was familiar with: pink pinstriped walls paired with grandma’s floral wallpaper, baroque wooden chairs, and bookshelves laden with miniature paintings of upper-class women in domestic settings. This gaudy design lent credence to Elvira’s claim that since moving in, Ruth had “ruined the place.” A touch of realism in the whimsical world of Blithe Spirit.
Running Time: Two hours and 20 minutes, including two 10-minute intermissions.
Blithe Spirit plays through November 8, 2025, presented by Dominion Stage, performing at Gunston Theatre Two, 2700 S Lang St, Arlington, VA. Purchase tickets ($30 for general admission) at the door or online.
Blithe Spirit
By Noël Coward
Directed by Alden Michels
CAST
Charles: Eric Kennedy
Ruth: Fosse Thornton
Elvira: Mary Rodrigues
Madame Arcati: Meghan Williams Elkins
Mrs. Bradman: Karey Hart
Dr. Bradman: Stephen Wheeler
Edith, U/S Ruth: Katie Barnett
U/S Charles: Michael McCarthy
PRODUCTION STAFF
Executive Producer: Brianna Goode
Producer: Andrew Goldman
Director: Alden Michels
Asst. Director: Mel Gumina
Stage Manager: Maureen Dawson
Asst. Stage Manager: Maggi Richard
Lighting Designer: Andrew Harasty
Special Effects Designer: Allison Gray-Mendes
Special Effects Designer: Adam Ressa
Sound Designer: Janice Rivera
Costume Designer: Joan Lawrence
Hair & Makeup Designer: Maureen Roult
Set Designer: Julie Fischer
Master Carpenter: Julie Fischer
Props Designer: Emma Bowers
Set Dresser: Emma Bowers
Intimacy Choreographer: Brianna Goode
