Customer Reviews

Blithe Spirit (Methuen Modern Plays)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The performances are top-notch in this hilarious British comedy. When the ghost of a dead wife is unleashed on his household by a wacky clairvoyant a man must struggle to meet the demands of all wives, both dead and alive. Noel Coward's comedy is fill with plenty of laughs. The sound quality of this cassette is excellent. If you like books on tape you should try all that L.A. Theatre Works has to offer.

One can't help but laugh from beginning to end.Yet the argument is very sombre,and could have been the argument of the most grim drama of a German playwriter. It's the wit of Coward, his genius of combining the petty ridiculous whit the dramatic that makes this drama just perfect.Coward's practical views on the supernatural are absolutely irresistible. A must for the occult believer and for the skeptic as well!

Edit: My review refers to the L.A. Theaterworks production.

I've seen many productions of this play on film, stage and radio and this is, far and away, the best production ever. A different, more English tone takes this production a million miles away from the well known film version and, charming though Rex Harrison et al are, this is all the better for being different.

Ian Ogilvy shines as the misogynistic Charles who carries a torch for his first wife despite his best efforts. Rosalind Ayres is fine as the slighted Ruth, playing it with a wonderful, indignant tone. But the undisputed star of the show is Judy Geeson who plays the mischevious Elvira with such wonderful drawling tones it's a delight to listen to her. I only wish we heard the word 'beastly' more in conversation!

Of my many audio books, this is absolutely my favourite but wonderful as it is, I'm just sorry that this was radio and not stage or screen. What a fabulous production it would have been.

Kate was dominating and had a good thing which she lost but she just would not give up. Kate was as vicious as Ligeia in a similar situation written by Poe. At the college performance, Blithe was the color green (for death), most effective. Kate was also a color but not the white we'd expect of a ghost, for a dead entity, she had a healthy glow.