Superstar Dame Angela Lansbury triumphs in
this totally delightful revival of Noel Coward’s 1944 comedy. Set in an elegant
English country home, a novelist has arranged a séance as research for his new
book.
He didn’t reckon with eccentric medium
Madame Arcati (Lansbury) who, after cycling eight miles to the house, accidentally summons up his dead ex-wife. This
blithe spirit is not approving of his new spouse and is determined to win him
back. So Madame Arcati is called on again to exorcise this ghost, a talent she
obviously does not possess. However, she is quite willing to give it a try, and she does, with predictably disastrous results.
Lansbury is a bundle of energy,
even doing the hokey-pokey to connect with the other world, and taking the stage so
completely that the rest are in danger of becoming mere shadows.
Charles Edwards
is a gallant hero caught between warring wives; Charlotte Parry presents a stiff-upper-lip as his beleaguered
present wife; Jemima Rooper is a kewpie-doll ghost with a sensual memory; Simon
Jones and Sandra Shipley are a neighboring couple of skeptics,
and Susan Louise O’Connor is the daftest maid that ever served high tea.
Directed with impeccably high style by Michael Blakemore, the exquisite set is by Simon
Higlett, with lighting by Mark Jonathan and sound by Ben and Max Ringham. The
costumes are exquisite, with Lansbury’s colorful outfits by Martin Pakledinaz.
Delightful interlude vocals of Coward songs by Christine Ebersole.
After winning accolades in London the show is being launched at the Ahmanson Theatre for its North American Tour.
At Los Angeles Music Center, 135
North Grand Avenue, through
Jan. 18. Tickets: 213-628-2772 or www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or CTG Box
Office.
Also reviewed in January issue of
NOT BORN YESTERDAY
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