Alana M. Carroll
Staff Writer
The RIC Mainstage started off the spooky month of October with a production of “Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward at the Helen Forman Theater. This two-act play was directed by Casey Seymour Kim and performed entirely by actors enrolled at Rhode Island College.
From the moment one enters the theater, they are immediately transported to England in the 1940s. There is no doubt about the social status of our protagonists; both acts take place in their ornate parlor in Kent. Exquisite paintings adorn the walls, a vase of bright and healthy-looking flowers sit proudly on the table in the center and classical music from the era fills the room. Birds sing and crickets hum from the double doors at the edge of the set and a golden chandelier hangs from the ceiling, making it easy for the viewer to forget that they are in fact not a houseguest.
The lights attract the viewers attention away from the set as they are introduced to the first two characters: clumsy yet well-intentioned housekeeper Edith (Kayla Botelho) and stunningly-posh Ruth Condomine (Abigail Saccone). Her husband Charles Condomine (Samuel F. Wright) has invited a medium to perform a seance as inspiration for a novel he is writing. Also in attendance are Dr. Bradmin (Steven Cere) and Lady Bradmin (Mariana Villa Jaramillo), friends of the Condomines, and all agree to pretend that they have full faith in the authenticity of the supernatural.
It is not long before our clairvoyant Madame Arcati (Aida Menacho) steals the show with her eccentric yet effective methods of connecting with the deceased. Through her powers the audience finally meets Elvira Condomine (Emma McKay), the first wife of Charles who is only perceivable to him and the audience, of course. Mayhem ensues as Charles tries desperately to convince his skeptic friends that the apparition of his first wife is indeed real and wrestles with his feelings for Elvira, feelings that will ultimately come between him and Ruth and threaten their relationship.
Not only are the costumes for the show breathtaking and era-appropriate, but they also tell a story without words; Arcati’s red sequins and loose trousers contrast starkly with the cool-toned, flowing gowns of Ruth and Mrs. Bracknell, emphasizing her whimsy and offering a refreshing reprieve from the stoicness of the cast.
Upon Elvira’s appearance, it’s difficult to look anywhere but at her flowy orange gown that matches her hair, the color complimentary to the blues elsewhere on set. The fabric used to make the gown has a color-shifting element to it, making it appear almost green as she twirls and flounces about, further putting in the spotlight that she is in fact a spirit. It may be Charles whose costumes have the most telling change, because as the show progresses, his ensembles transition from complimenting his living wife to matching the deceased one. He undergoes several wardrobe changes, beginning the show in a proper black tuxedo, switching into a blue suit and then into a matching orange top and trousers.
In the playbill for the show, Casey Seymour Kim states that the actors involved in the production “are new to this genre and have worked to master the rhythm, attitude, and dialect,” yet considering the poise and authenticity of each cast member, it’s hard to believe that this isn’t second nature for them. Every aspect of these delightfully different characters is executed wonderfully, from the fake accents to the blocking, with facial expressions and physical mannerisms that bring each character to life.
The production ran Oct. 2–6 and was a delight to sit through. The effort invested into it by the cast and crew culminates into a professional production that leaves the viewer completely invested. From a hysterical beginning to a standing ovation at the end, “Blithe Spirit” was full of wit, charm and humor and an enchanting start to the Mainstage Theatre season at Rhode Island College.
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