‘Blithe Spirit’ is Playhouse winner

By MILAN Paurich

news@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Maybe the third time really is the charm. After two unsatisfying attempts to mount theatrical warhorses this season (Halloween’s “Dracula” and last month’s “Inherit the Wind”), the Youngstown Playhouse finally hits one out of the park.

The Mary Ruth Lynn-directed production of Noel Coward’s 1941 chestnut “Blithe Spirit” that opened Friday night does so many things right (including mostly spot-on casting and fabulous set/costume design) that it’s easy to forgive the play for showing its age. Encumbered by a logy, antiquated three-act structure (and two seemingly interminable intermissions), Coward’s ghost farce makes for a very long evening indeed. But if you can survive the exposition-heavy first act – and overlook the miscasting of a central role – Lynn’s “Spirit” serves up the type of frothy boulevard entertainment that never goes out of style.

Speaking of style, Jim Lybarger and Cherie Stebner’s drop-dead gorgeous set and costuming set a new Playhouse standard of excellence. Fortunately, there’s more to the show than just yummy eye candy. Lynn clearly understands that any self-respecting production of “Blithe Spirit” lives (or, in some cases, dies) on the strength of its actresses. And on that count, this “Spirit” is an unqualified triumph.

Cheryl Games and Connie Cassidy are both utterly divine as, respectively, the dead (Elvira) and living (Ruth) wives of posh, upper-crust British novelist Charles Condomine (Terry Shears).

As dotty medium Madame Arcati, whose post-dinner party seance precipitates the ghostly return of Charles’ deceased spouse, Terri Wilkes brings such manic energy and boisterous, goofy charm to the role that it seems like a well-nigh definitive portrayal. Even the smaller female roles are beautifully cast. I loved the near-subliminal bits of physical comedy that Candice DiLullo brings to bumbling, Cockney-inflected Condomine maid Edith (even DiLullo’s entrances and exits are a hoot), and Regina Reynolds is so adorable as pickled party guest Mrs. Bradman that you genuinely miss her whenever she’s offstage.

The two male roles are more unevenly served. Though Tom O’Donnell nicely underplays the somewhat thankless role of Dr. Bradman, Shears is less successful as the rakish Charles. Besides lacking the requisite charm of any proper Coward protagonist, Shears mostly bungles his English accent which has a now-you-hear-it, now-you-don’t quality. He also seems a tad, er, mature for “astral bigamist” Charles. (Shears looks — and acts — more like Ruth and Elvira’s tsk-tsking father than their understandably flummoxed husband.)

Yet, even with its less-than ideal Charles and some typical Coward long-windedness, the YP “Blithe Spirit” has such a fizzy effervescence and infectious joie de vivre that it’s hard to resist. Of course, any opportunity to spend three hours in the company of such gifted funny ladies as Cassidy, Games, Wilkes, DiLullo and Reynolds is not to be sneezed at.

This just might be the best offer the Playhouse has made to area theatergoers all season.

“Blithe Spirit” runs through next Sunday at the Youngstown Playhouse. For tickets, call (330) 788-8739.