BLITHE Spirit, everyone's favourite play, written by the master playwright, Noël Coward, who would have been proud of the way the Riverside Drama Company, performed his masterpiece. This was last week, in St John's Church Hall.

The curtains opened to a beautiful set, the living room of the Condomine's home, where Charles and Ruth Condomine were awaiting guests to arrive for a small dinner party they were holding, their honoured guest, the celebrated medium, Madam Arcati. Charles, a novelist wants to learn some of the tricks of the trade, (as he puts it) for his new book.

Ruth, is giving orders to Edith, the maid. A sophisticated performance by Donna Chinn, as Ruth. Edith was well played by newcomer, Siobhan Harrison.

Charles bursts in, full of enthusiasm about his new book, he's sure he's going to get some inside information from the medium, who doesn't know, this is the reason for her invitation ... An exuberant performance by Martin Holtom.

Over drinks, the conversation turns towards Elvira, Charles's late, first wife. Their guests arrive Dr and Mrs Bradman, the Dr is an out and out sceptic, but is going along with things just for the fun of it, talkative Mrs Bradman, excitedly waits for Madam Arcati's arrival. These two parts were played well by Sean Elliott, and newcomer, Claire Smith.

At last Madam Arcati, arrives! An eccentric performance (as befits this character perfectly) by Liz Turner.

After dinner, they all assemble for a séance, Madam needs music picks much to Charles's dismay, Always ... Elvira's favourite song! She whirls around the room, then joins them at the table. No amount of table tapping can conjure up any spirits, so reluctantly, Madam Arcati, goes into a trance. The table goes berserk and falls over with a crash! Mrs Bradman utters "Shall we pick it up, or leave it where it is?' A ghostly voice says 'Leave it where it is'.

The guests leave, but Madam Arcati is convinced that while she was in a trance, something happened ...

A sudden draught, and the ghost of Elvira glides through the French windows, she is beautiful, but all grey, she leans on the table, and waits for Charles to turn and face her, he does so, and horror struck, drops his glass! He tries to explain to Ruth but as she can't see Elvira, she doesn't believe him. Elvira, this is a part every actress dreams of, and Lizzie O'Hara was brilliant! Conniving, bitchy, wheedling and flirtatious. Wonderful!

From then on, things get decidedly worse. Ruth is livid, Charles is devilishly enjoying himself, while Elvira, is in seventh heaven, scheming how to kill Charles, and get him to herself forever!

Ruth in a fury, decides to visit Madam Arcati, and so takes the car. When Elvira hears this, she has hysterics. The phone rings, dreadful news, Ruth has been killed in a car crash. Elvira is horrified, after all, the crash was meant for Charles. She'd damaged the brakes! She's even more horrified when the door flies open, and an unseen Ruth, attacks her!

Madam Arcati, arrives, tells Charles she has a plan of how to get rid of the ghosts. But after many hilarious attempts, and numerous séances, all she succeeds in doing, is to conjure up Ruth! Charles, now has two wives he can see.

Frantically, she looks into her crystal ball, and sees a white bandage. Edith appears with her head bandaged, she'd fallen down the stairs ... She looks, and sees the ghosts, and slowly starts to sing Always, and Ruth and Elvira disappear.
 
Success! But Charles is warned to be careful ... One never knows ... Madam Arcati leaves, and things begin to happen, shelves collapse, books fly all over the place, and pictures fall. They are still around! Charles doesn't care, he's going away where they can't get at him ... Can they?

A great evening's entertainment. Blithe Spirit was directed by Liz Turner, and Martin Holtom.

By June Barker