Blithe Spirit
at American Heritage School

Reviewed on October 14, 2022

Erin Whitaker
Archbishop McCarthy High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Is romance dead? According to American Heritage's production of "Blithe Spirit," all it takes is a simple seance (or several) to breathe life back into love!

Written by Noël Coward in the 1940s, "Blithe Spirit" broke records, running on the West End for nearly 2000 performances. The play tells the story of Charles, an author by trade whose life starts to resemble that of a novel when he accidentally conjures the spirit of his dead first wife. Alongside a cast of eccentric characters, Charles must rid his home and his heart of this dastardly dame before it's too late.

Leading the show as Charles was the hilarious Christopher Moody. Moody's comedic timing was strong throughout all three acts of the play and he showed no intention of dropping it. Moody's chemistry with the other actors--especially Elvira (Katie Sheahan) and Ruth (Sarah Brown)--undoubtedly stole the show. The contrast between Sheahan and Brown's characters, from the bickering over Charles to ultimately becoming friends, is attention-grabbing and should be commended. Sheahan's performance as Elvira, the dearly departed first wife, is impressively hysterical while being true to her character. No matter the scene, Brown's portrayal of the confident, sharp-witted Ruth commanded the room. Brown's emotional commitment to Ruth is clear in her graceful execution of the character. Though some moments fell flat and others that got too chaotic at times could have been improved upon, the entire cast impressively embodied their characters.

Jessi Kaplan's depiction of the free-spirited Madame Arcati is the epitome of entertainment. Kaplan's stage presence is absolutely eye-catching. Her physical performance, in particular, is extremely enjoyable to watch. Kaplan's delivery of Madame Arcati's love for the occult and incredible drinking problem is undeniably amusing to watch.

As the Publicity Managers, Ashley Bories and Tara Peart did an outstanding job marketing their show. Their work brought "Blithe Spirit" to life, no pun intended. On the other side of the production, the incredible props by Rebecca Weltmann were intricately constructed down to the smallest details, such as the smoking, "lit" cigarettes. While some scene changes ran a bit long, the lovely music played in between them was period appropriate and charming. Peyton Barnett should also be commended for their work as Stage Manager, along with the crew. Because of the close proximity in the black box, the work done by the production team and crew is even more apparent, allowing the audience to feel immersed in the story.

Overall, the cast and crew of American Heritage's "Blithe Spirit" succeeded in creating a spectacular spooky experience.

Maddie Musso
NSU University School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

When two lovers made a promise at the altar and professed that they would love each other, "Till Death Do Us Part", little did they know that this vow would be indefinite.

Premiering on Broadway at the Morosco Theater in 1941, Blithe Spirit follows the story of Charles Condomine, an irascible writer who finds himself to be tormented by the ghost of his late wife, Elvira, that was unintentionally materialized after the idiosyncratic Madame Arcati summons the other side. When Ruth, Charles's current wife, and Elvira can't see eye to eye, Ruth is unintentionally murdered, and after "crossing over" to the world of the dead, these two "blithe spirits" continue to harass and haunt Charles indefinitely to make up for the years of mistreatment. Blithe Spirit, a British play from Noël Coward's inventive form of comedy, brings us a world where romance and marriage deteriorate into complete hilarity and mayhem.

Portraying the sophisticated and witty Ruth Condomine, Sarah Brown's dedication and complexity of the role should be commended greatly. With a constant believable accent, and time-period appropriate mannerisms, every line and step by Brown was intentional. Playing her counterpart, the cynical and sarcastic Charles Condomine, Christopher Moody exhibited an impeccable performance. With voice dynamics representing each emotion and a complex character arc, Moody displayed commendable comedic timing as a man of great stature.

Captivating everyone with her unwavering devotion to the role and unbelievable stage presence, Madame Acarti, played by Jessi Kaplan, encompassed the boisterous character to a tee. During the cacophony of Arcati's séances, Kaplan entranced the audience with her clear understanding of the character and undeniable talent. Along with Arcati's impeccable comedic timing, another character of note with regard to her humorous interpretation, Liliana Shaw (Edith) embodied the young naive maid and developed her character significantly even with minimal stage time. Even with minor pacing and diction inconsistencies, the connection as a cast was unassailable and convincing; it was a pleasure to watch the story unfold.

Although small in size, this cast and crew transported the audience right into the 1940s with delectable cucumber sandwiches and jazz music accompaniment on the record player at all hours. With impeccable attention to detail, whether it be the intricate bar cart, time period research, or an entire cue sheet, Rebecca Weltmann executed her role as prop master as a professional. Differentiation between the living and the dead was beautifully accomplished by Emma Kolb and Sydney Herzburn, who beautifully designed hair and makeup. Having the spirits in full grey body makeup, as well as contoured facial features, both Elvira and Ruth possessed individual features but remained cohesive. With the addition of realistic facial hair and flawlessly curled wigs, this tech component brought the production to a new level.

American Heritage School's rendition of Blithe Spirit brought dedication and effort from both the cast and crew, creating a hilarious and harmonious production!

Isabella Saralegui
Cypress Bay High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Does love triumph over death? Can flames still burn after years of being apart, and can that love burn as brightly as it once had? All these questions were answered in American Hertiage's production Blithe Spirit.

This paranormal comedy, written by Noel Coward, is set in 1941 and follows the suave writer Charles, who invites the local eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to get inspiration for his newest work. Madame Arcati performs a seemingly unsuccessful seance in attempts to make contact with the dead. This plan backfires when Charles' deceased wife, Elvira, rises from the dead and haunts him, along with his current wife Ruth.

Leading the show as the debonair writer Charles, Christopher Moody delivered a captivating performance through his steadfast commitment to his character, as well as impeccable comedic timing. Moody also displayed outstanding chemistry with cast member Sarah Brown, who played the role of Ruth, Charles' wife. Moody and Brown played off of each other wonderfully, making the colloquy between the two feel effortless. Brown's strong characterization coupled with her authenticity in the role allowed for Ruth's character arc to shine. Katie Sheahan as the mischievous ghost Elvira did an excellent job of portraying the conflict between Charles, Ruth, and herself.

No show would be complete without comedic side characters. Jessi Kaplan as the zany Madame Arcati provided many moments of uncontrollable laughter through her physical comedy and meticulous comedic timing. Another comedic standout amongst the cast was Liliana Shaw as the maid Edith. Shaw's few moments on stage were used to their fullest, never missing a comedic beat.

Justin Gulbranson and Diane Li as Dr. Bradman and Mrs. Bradman also left a strong impression on the stage. Their chemistry with each other, as well as their fellow cast mates, made for this small cast to have a nice balance of very distinct personalities.

The technical elements were seamlessly implemented throughout the show. Stage management, done by Peyton Barnett, must be commended for its perfect precision on many of the cues called. Props by Rebecca Weltmann were executed with such attention to detail and finesse, that it allowed for a complete immersion into the scene and added a striking believability to the overall production.

American Heritage's production of Blithe Spirit went above and beyond to tell this comedic masterpiece of deceit and love.

Isabela Rangel
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Spirits, seances, and surprises are elements not commonly found in the Condomine Residence; that is until one man's attempt at writing a novel leads to the overwhelming presence of his deceased wife and the clairvoyant who summoned her. American Heritage School's production of Blithe Spirit uses the combination of a charming cast and intimate setting to tell the eccentric story of a couple's night of research gone wrong.

Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit is a three-act play that premiered in the West End in 1941 and is recognized for being one of the longest-running plays in that very theater. Coward tells the story of novelist Charles Condomine who, hoping to find inspiration for a novel, welcomes the medium Madame Arcati into his home for a seance. Instead of just finding proof of a spiritual realm, they soon find that they have brought Charles' first wife, Elvira, back to the living world to haunt Charles and his second wife Ruth. Comically, Charles and Ruth frantically try to find a way to send stubborn Elvira back before more chaos ensues.

Playing the charming socialite Charles is Christopher Moody, whose comedic timing and unwavering characterization brought the leading character to life. Alongside him was Sarah Brown, who captured the essence and mannerisms of her stern and classy character, Ruth Condomine. The two of them shared rhythmic chemistry between both them and their scene partners which created a balance of tension and comedy that moved the storyline along flawlessly.

Jessi Kaplan played the eccentric Madame Arcati commendably. Her engaging liveliness and definite character decisions had the audience entranced the whole time she was on stage. Elvira, played by Katie Sheahan, is another character that bewitched the audience with her chilling entrances and the captivating facial expressions she delivered along with her lines. Other commendable performances came from the Bradman couple, played by Justin Gulbranson and Diane Li, whose reactions to the events onstage were effortless and genuine. All of the actor's dedication to the accents throughout the show kept the audience captivated the entire time. Despite a few lines getting lost during the more frantic scenes, the overall dialogue between any of the characters was noteworthy.

The show's technical facets also played a huge part in the pacing and seamless transitions shown on stage. The props, done by Rebecca Weltmann, were vital to the show's plot and should be commended for how detailed they were. Additionally, the use of special effects in the ghost's entrances and particularly in the final scene created an ambiance and energy that matched the show perfectly.

The play's final scene may have closed out with a bang, but American Heritage School's production of Blithe Spirit left its lingering essence of mystery and charm for audiences to ponder for quite some time.

Abby Goldberg
Cooper City High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Ghosts? Sèances? Cucumber sandwiches? American Heritage School's riveting production of "Blithe Spirit" truly had it all. Audience members were brought on a journey full of laughter, love, and dead wives, during a show that was sure to raise your spirits.

"Blithe Spirit" premiered in the West End in 1941 and opened on Broadway later that year. Written by Noël Coward, the original run inspired several revivals and a Tony Award winning musical adaptation. The story takes place in 1940's England, and follows Charles Condomine, a struggling writer. In hopes of curing his writer's block, he invites a medium to his house to perform a sèance. When Charles' late wife, Elvira, is accidentally summoned, chaos follows as she complicates Charles' relationship with his current wife.

Portraying Charles, Christopher Moody exhibited a consistent accent and clear tone throughout the production. Moody also remarkably displayed distinct relationships between him and his two wives. Ruth, Charles' second wife, was brilliantly embodied by Sarah Brown. Moody and Brown were proficient at understanding their on-stage relationship as a married couple, both their familiarity and argumentative tension added to their fantastic performance. Alongside the couple was Katie Sheahan as the impetuous Elvira. Shehan radiated energy as we followed Elvira through her feelings of confusion, anger, and ultimate heartbreak. Together, Moody, Brown, and Sheahan created an engaging and believable performance, showing their understanding of these complex relationships.

Jessi Kaplan portrayed the role of Madame Arcati, the eccentric medium. With consistent energy, exceptional stage business, and precise comedic timing, Kaplan continuously livened the stage. Another standout was Diane Li as Mrs. Bradman. Li displayed a wide range of expressions and never failed to provide impeccable reactions. The chemistry between Li and Justin Gulbranson, playing her on-stage husband Dr. Bradman, was a fantastic addition to the show.

Throughout arguments, sèances, and peculiar dinner parties, the cast as a whole did a stellar job. Each actor displayed sensational characterization and created authentic and distinct relationships. Although occasionally lines and reactions were seemingly forced or anticipated, the cast was phenomenal at maintaining their focus.

The technical elements of the show were splendid. Damien Ellowitz did an amazing job with sound, transporting audience members to the world of "Blithe Spirit," through the use of old songs and effects. The stage manager, Payton Barnett, must also be commended for their timely cues and consistently clean transitions. Hair and makeup, done by Emma Kolb and Sydney Herzbrun, really brought the characters to life. Transitions between hair, makeup, and costumes were all done efficiently and effectively.

With genuine acting and endless energy, American Heritage School's production of "Blithe Spirit" showed a skillful balance of tragedy and comedy. The cast and crew magnificently brought this story of the undead to life.