They're doing a little dabbling with the supernatural down at the Town Hall each night
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from November 1979.
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Charles Condomine - a sophisticated, successful novelist - a part perfectly suited to Stanley Panton's considerable acting ability - is living a pleasant life with his second wife Ruth, played by Toni Parker, an attractive newcomer to the Cayman Drama Society, until the ghost of his first wife, who seven years ago was killed in a car accident, materialises from the Other Side and upsets their entire lives.
This supernatural phenomone comes about because Charles, writing a novel about a medium who is an imposter, decides in order to get his facts right he will hold a seance with a professional medium. He invites Madame Arcati, a well-known spiritualist to dinner with a doctor friend and his wife. Madame Arcati has promised Charles that after dinner she will endeavour to make contact with the Spirit World.
She does just this to an extent that Charles had not bargained for. To his horror his first wife Elvira materalises. A riveting moment of drama for the audience as well as Charles.
A star part for Judy Dredge, who with her professional stage experience is brilliantly making the most of Madame Arcati, an eccentric, unwittingly funny character whose "control" in the Spirit World is a tiresome child called Daphne. Between them. Madame Arcati and Daphne certainly wreck havoc.
The role of Elvira is played by Meg Patterson who is thoroughly enjoying being a mischievous, delicious-looking ghost and her reunion with Charles and the chaos she is causing to his marriage.
Noel Conward described "Blithe Spirit" as an improbable farce. It is certainly very spookey and very funny. To some it may not be so improbable! One of Coward's most successful plays still to be seen in many countries, it is being directed by Margaret Barwick, a virtuose director of a young, talented cast. It is being produced at the Town Hall in George Town on December 13, 14, and 15.
Then the following weekend December 20, 21, and 22.
