WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon
ELLEN KNOX DARE (standing) keeps tabs on Jeannie Jyurovat as Ruth, and Clay Nielsen as Charles during ?lithe Spirit?at the Ashtabula Arts Center.
Published November 04, 2009 03:20 pm - WEEKENDER for November 6, 2009: Sometimes, what we call a 'weird' play pops up on our theater radar screen.
‘Blithe Spirit’ works for Halloween season A REVIEW
By ROGER SMITH - For the Star Beacon
Bleep!
Sometimes, what we call a 'weird' play pops up on our theater radar screen.
Though the plot is far-fetched, “Blithe Spirit” is a show that works well for the time around Halloween. Written by English playwright Noel Coward, “Blithe Spirit” is the tale of wives returning from the “beyond” to create havoc in the life of their erstwhile husband.
Clay Nielsen, in the role of husband Charles Condomine, was entertainingly convincing as the man caught between departed wife 1 and live wife 2.
Nielsen is quite a familiar face to Ashtabula Arts Center patrons, having appeared there in several shows of late. Jeannie Jyurovat, as Ruth Condomine (2), also did a fine job with her role and save for being slight of voice, her portrayal of the live wife matched the quality of Nielsen's.
New to the G.B. Community Theatre stage was Valerie Compton, an actor worth keeping an eye on. Cast in the supporting role of Mrs. Bradman, Compton very quietly but succinctly showed she knew what she was doing on stage. Ellen Knox Dare as the ‘spirited’ wife 1, Elvira, was often the highlight of the show with her impish endeavors to upset the household.
Looking every bit like a medium that was often in and out of a trance, Velleda Knox as Madame Arcati conjured up the spirits of wives past. Knox has set foot on many a stage in northeast Ohio, but this is her first time on the Ashtabula stage. Rita Werman, back from a hiatus of a half-dozen years, played the housekeeper who — try as she might — could not get things done calmly and methodically. Dennis Dixon was cast in the role of Dr. Bradman, and for a character that didn't have much going on except his black bag Dixon pulled it off.
Ray Beach’s set design was spectacular. It lent itself to the belief that one was actually in a country home, looking out on a well-kept garden. Everything technical worked well, and the costumes were period.
“Blithe Spirit” continues tonight and Saturday night at 8 and Sunday at 2 p.m. and next week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets may be reserved by phoning the Arts Center Box Office at 964-3396.
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