Blithe Spirit was Coward´s own favourite play, written in an amazing five days during one of the darkest periods of the war. That it then ran for over four years is not surprising. It really is a wonderful antidote to depression.

Returning for their annual theatrical spectacular, Indulgence theatre offers an evening of fast–paced, comical interaction with the spirit world. Noel Coward´s evergreen comedy is a classic cocktail of the supernatural and the suburban.

Smug socialites Charles and Ruth Condomine (Mr Matthew Morrissey and Mrs Joanna Hollingworth) invite eccentric local psychic Madame Arcati (Mrs Elizabeth Lucas) to hold a séance for them: he´s a sceptical writer and he wants to do a little research. Then, the negligée-clad ghost of his glamorous first wife, Elvira (Miss Janie Atcheson), actually turns up. There can have been few funnier situations in the history of comedy than this of a man caught between a bossy sexless wife and a gloriously sexy one… we´ll leave you to decide which is which!

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Reviews

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A DELIGHTFUL evening of laughter is the best way to describe the production of Noel Coward´s classic comedy Blithe Spirit, brought to life at Lincoln´s Drill Hall by the Indulgence Theatre Company.

Right from the off you knew you were in for a treat as Edith the maid, played to great effect by Frances Kelly, made her first appearance.

She successfully set the whole tone of the piece and continued to make her mark throughout the production.

But it was Liz Lucas who stole the show as the madcap medium Madame Arcati. Her manic movements and ‘spiritual moments’ caused great amusement amongst the audience and guaranteed all eyes were on her whenever she was on the stage.

Not to be outdone, Janie Atcheson made an excellent Elvira. Her elegant portrayal of the ghost conjured up by Madame Arcati´s actions fitted beautifully with the time period – the play was written in 1941 and made into an award-winning film in 1945 – and the interaction with husband Charles, played to excellent effect by Matthew Morrissey, was a delightful piece of theatre.

Well done to director Aggi Gunstone, the production team led by Jason Hippisley, and cast for providing such a professional production.

Dianne Tuckett, Market Rasen Mail, 26 November 2008

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Stage productions by Lincoln amateur company Indulgence Theatre come along only too rarely and you must enjoy them while you can.

There was plenty to enjoy at Lincoln Drill Hall this weekend where a cast of familiar faces performed Noel Coward´s ghostly comedy Blithe Spirit with panache.

Matthew Morrissey and Jo Hollingworth were perfectly matched as socialite and novelist Charles Condomine and his seething second wife Ruth, whose position as matriarch is undermined when a séance conjures the ghost of Charles´ first wife.

Janie Smith´s Elvira was deliciously seductive, sowing the seeds of chaos in the Condomines´ marriage and revelling in the mischief she created.

But the show was stolen by the irrepressible Liz Lucas, whose eccentric medium Madama Arcati combined physical comedy, hilarious expression and matchless coming timing.

Frank Kelly elicited plenty of laughs, too, as the lumpen housemaid who turns out to be at the heart of the ghostly goings–on.

Director Aggi Gunstone deserves praise for maintaining the high standard which Indulgence have set, a standard which extends beyond the auditorium and into the foyer, where the complimentary cucumber sandwiches were delicious and impeccably presented.

Jez Ashberry, for Lincolnshire Echo, November 2008