Noel Coward’s 1941 comedy is still good value entertainment (witness the recent London revival) and an ideal vehicle for Lymington Players on their pocket-sized stage.
Novelist Charles Condomine (an increasingly put-upon Bruce McIntosh) inadvertently conjures up the ghost of his late first wife Elvira with the help of the bouncing, bicycle-riding Madame Arcati (exuberantly eccentric Laraine Dunleavy).
But only Charles can see |the feisty Elvira (Maggie Rose as a most seductive spirit), much to the annoyance of his second wife Ruth (bewildered Penelope Wright), until she accidently dies too, saddling Charles with two ghostly ex-wives, at which point he tiptoes away, leaving them both to wreck the house.
Director Hazel Gibbs very wisely edited the script to keep the action moving, and the neat period set (Colin Keir) lent credibility to Coward’s dialogue, delivered by all the players with clarity and style.
Ed Howson
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here