'Blithe Spirit' is a witty war of the words
By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

MYSTERIOUS- Madame Arcati (Elizabeth Edwards), center, conjures up a good time in Conejo Players' production of Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit." From left are Jim Diderrich, Judy Diderrich, Hannah Kaplan, Edwards, Patrick Foley and Debbie Price. In the crystal ball is the "spirit," the deceased Elvira Condomine (Vivien Latham). Weekend matinees continue through Dec. 15. For tickets, call (805) 495-3715.

If you're tired of battling the crowds at the mall or bored with TV reruns, enjoy some silly ghostly fun at the Conejo Players Theatre with Noel Cowards' small-cast farce, "Blithe Spirit," part of the Conejo Afternoon Theater program.

With CAT, two plays have a concurrent run and share the same set. "Spirit" is playing in weekend matinees while "You Can't Take it With You" is the evening show. This ingenious arrangement lets patrons enjoy twice the entertainment in one week.

"Spirit" is a typical Coward creation that centers around the highbrow bickering of a wellheeled English couple- more snappy one-liners than belly laughs but frightfully amusing.

Novelist Charles Condomine (Patrick Foley), suffering from writer's block, invites psychic Madam Arcati (Elizabeth Edwards) to his home for a séance so he can steal ideas for a new book. Charles and his wife Ruth (Judy Diderrich) are both skeptics about the supernatural, as are their dinner guests, Dr. George and Violet Bradman (Jim Diderrich and Debbie Price).

The unbelievers find the séance fascinating at first, then unsettling as strange things happen. The event produces an unpleasant side effect: the appearance of Charles' first- and deceased- wife, Elvira (Vivien Latham).

Unfortunately for Charles, only he can see and hear the spirit. The funniest bits in the show are Charles' frantic attempts to prove Elvira's existence to his doubting wife and Ruth's misunderstandings of Charles' conversations with the invisible house guest. When he tells Elvira to "shut up, you guttersnipe," Ruth takes it personally.

The mortal Condomines want Elvira gone to save their marriage, but the first wife is using any means she can to stay with Charles, and Madam Arcati hasn't a clue to how to make the ghost disappear.

As the three principal actors, Judy Diderrich, Foley and Latham keep the energetic verbal fencing moving nonstop. Somehow I picture Charles as an older man than Foley presents. Latham makes a dandy spirit, flitting about in a white gown and leisurely draping herself over the furniture as if she still owns the house.

Jim Diderrich and Price are good in their roles, although we see little of them after the séance scene.

Edwards' wardrobe is as flamboyant as her character. She plays the role as a professional who truly believes in her work, not as a deluded "wacko," and it works well. At times, though, in an effort to appear excited, she seems to wander about the stage. Her movements could be more focused.

Young Hannah Kaplan revives her cockney serving girl role from CPT's play "Angel Street" to play Edith, the Condomines' maid. She's delightful as the girl too eager to please her masters, although this critic feels that Kaplan has the range to expand into other roles.

Coward's play is more about word play and clever quips than character growth or plot. Like many period pieces, it's overwritten. The middle of act two loses steam, as if Coward had penned himself into a corner and couldn't think of an ending. The resolution seems contrived.

At the matinee I attended, I spotted a few children in the audience. I'd like to commend the parents for introducing their kids to the theater. Given that the average age of local theater patrons is rather high, live theater could become a lost art unless the younger generations develop an appreciation for the stage.

Bob Decker directed, and Dick Johnson designed the richly detailed set. Mike McCauley presents some interesting special effects, such as doors magically opening and objects that mysteriously fall off shelves. My only quibble is that during thunderstorms, one sees the flash of lightning first and then hears the thunder several seconds later.

"Blithe Spirit" is a family friendly show, a pleasant way to relax during a hectic holiday weekend.

Running time is two hours, 30 minutes. Shows are 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 15 and 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 9 at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. For tickets, call (805) 495-3715.