blithe spirit | The Sleepless Critic

REVIEW: Domestic bliss takes a spooky turn in Sullivan Rep’s immersive ‘Blithe Spirit’

Posted on October 30, 2024 by The Sleepless Critic

It is much more interesting to feel part of the dinner party.

Surrounded by a glowing fireplace and mantel, a grandfather clock, a vintage piano, stained glass doors and a Victrola inside a cozy living room, Sullivan Rep truly sets the stage for an immersive experience. As house guests, audience members are strategically placed without a bad seat in the house to become an intimate observer in this enclosed space.

In light of the 125^th anniversary of Noel Coward’s plays directed by Dan Sullivan, Sullivan Rep performed Noel Coward’s haunting comedy Blithe Spirit live and in person from October 16 through October 26 live and in person at the Women’s Club of Newton Highlands in Newton, Massachusetts. The three act production was 2 hours and 40 minutes with an 20 minute intermission. Click here for more information and for more on Sullivan Rep’s future events.

of Sullivan Rep’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ Photo credit to Sullivan Rep

Though Blithe Spirit is partially an otherworldly experience, it is also a comedy on marriage and much more. Set in the early 1940’s, Robert Orzalli as novelist Charles and Melissa Paz as Ruth are a well to do married couple who decide to hold a dinner party with guests Brian Higgins as dubious Dr. Bradman and Carly Evans as distinctively merry Mrs. Bradman and a séance featuring Catherine Lee Christie as medium Madame Acarti. The two couples are skeptical and consider it entertainment until something goes eerily awry.

Brian Higgins, Melissa Paz, Catherine Lee, Robert Orzalli and Carly Evans in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ Photo credit to Sullivan Rep

Blithe Spirit is helmed by a supremely capable cast. With an eccentric and enthusiastic delivery selectively rolling her R’s in a singsong lilt, Catherine Lee is a captivating scene stealer as Madame Acarti. In bright purple stockings and distinct boots, Lee humorously and masterfully encapsulates Madame Acarti infusing her subtle and unique idiosyncrasies into her daily mannerisms. A particularly fascinating highlight is Lee’s kicks and peculiar dances as she attempts to tap into the spirit world.

Catherine Lee as Madame Acardi in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ Photo credit to Sullivan Rep

Robert Orzalli as sophisticated intellectual Charles shares an elusive tension with his new wife Ruth portrayed by Melissa Paz. They seem a happy couple and supremely cordial at first, but the mood becomes strained when Ruth asks Charles about his late wife. Logical, matter of fact and persistent, Paz also depicts Ruth with an underlying anxiety in her demure mannerisms as Charles evaluates his late wife mostly on her flaws.

Robert Orzalli in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ Photo credit to Sullivan Rep

In silver from head to toe in Bridget Sullivan’s amazing hair and makeup design, Janis Hudson portrays youthful, spontaneous, and confident Elvira, Charles’s late first wife. Noel Coward’s dialogue can be complicated to pull off because it often contains overlapping and parallel conversations. To see these separate relationships and snappy conversations so distinctly articulated with sharp comedic timing especially between Orzalli, Paz, and Hudson is quite a feat. Ozalli’s Charles is refined, a bit narcissistic and is quite enjoying the attention while comically navigating these conversations. Blithe Spirit is about domestic bliss and dysfunction simultaneously and it is both fascinating and amusing to see how this trio pushes each other’s buttons and sparks fly in such an intimate setting.

Silk gowns and gloves, tuxedos, pearls, and diamonds are just a part of the Dan Sullivan’s primarily elegant costume design. Paul Roach’s sound design features popular music of the time and a key component in some of the production’s clever special effects with Eric Fox’s mood infused lighting.

Melissa Paz and Robert Orzalli in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ Photo credit to Sullivan Rep

Blithe Spirit is a bit lengthy, but the suspense certainly builds in a darkly comical way and contains a few powerful twists and lasting observations about love and marriage before it brings this production to its wild conclusion.

Sullivan Rep performed Noel Coward’s haunting comedy Blithe Spirit live and in person from October 16 through October 26 live and in person at the Women’s Club of Newton Highlands in Newton, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and for more on Sullivan Rep’s future events.

Sleepless Beyond the Stage: Building a dream with Richard Bento, President of South Shore Theatre Works

Posted on January 30, 2019 by The Sleepless Critic

Building a dream always has its share of surprises and challenges. However, with determination, hard work, and more than a touch of luck, those sought after dreams can become a reality. Sleepless Beyond the Stage explores the reality of making that dream come true, whether by building an organization, finally bringing that dream production to life, or starting a group that makes a difference.

Richard Bento, Executive Director and President of South Shore Theatre Works (SSTW) checked in with Sleepless Critic a few years ago as the theater was just getting on its feet. Boasting a successful run of Seussical in December, SSTW’s upcoming productions include Blithe Spirit, Ordinary Days, and Chicago. Richard Bento talks about how this Massachusetts theater has grown in a short time. Click here for more information, auditions, and for tickets.

Past performances of ‘Seussical the Musical’ December 2018

Sleepless Critic: Please tell me about your background and what inspired you to start South Shore Theatre Works?

Richard Bento: I’ve participated in community and semi-professional theater throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia, and San Francisco. One of my goals was to have a group of my own who share the same mission and passion I had for the arts.

A few years ago, I decided to participate in theater here and assist another community theater group. I fell in love with the people. We shared the same passion. When we were at a crossroads needing to decide whether we were going to bring this other group to another level or start our own with other people who shared that same drive, I decided to put together South Shore Theatre Works.

South Shore Theatre Works presents ‘Blithe Spirit’ February 15-17 in Randolph, MA Photo courtesy of South Shore Theatre Works

JD: What would you say to those who are considering starting a community theater?

RB: I wish them a lot of luck and determination because starting a community theater is difficult. It is not an endeavor for everyone or for the weak-hearted. Like an actor who wants to perform professionally and make it on Broadway, 99% of that actor’s experience will be rejection. When you’re putting together a theater group, you will also face rejection, people who feel threatened, or don’t understand why you’re creating this new project. What’s important is to make sure the reason behind this endeavor comes from a place of love and passion.

JD: How do the particular shows this season fit into this year’s mission?

RB: The hardest thing is deciding where we want SSTW to be at the end of that year. Going into the third season, we chose shows that celebrated the talent we have at SSTW.

We kicked it off with the musical, Urinetown. Not very successful on Broadway, but the SSTW actors were passionate about the show and Urinetown shows off an actor’s strengths. Seussical was about bringing wholesome family fun back into community theater. We’ll continue the fun with our upcoming spring musical Chicago, which was a dream of mine to direct.

South Shore Theatre Works presents the hit musical ‘Chicago’ in April. Photo courtesy of South Shore Theatre Works

JD: You once said you hope South Shore Theatre Works would become “a home where we can perform all year round, where people can feel comfortable, and share their talents and passion for the craft with audiences from all over.” Is that plan being fulfilled and where do you see SSTW in the future?

RB: The word “home” can be defined in many ways. I think a home theatre company is a comfortable place where I’ll also be challenged and empowered to try new things. South Shore Theatre Works has accomplished that in three short years. We have new actors and actors who return show after show not just for their dream roles, but to be part of our family.

Of course we have a long way to go. We have to evolve with the times and change with what is happening around us. We have performance space in Holbrook and Randolph with rehearsals in Stoughton. By changing our accessibility off the highway, it is easier for people who are coming in from the city to perform with us.

Second Saturday Cabaret presents ‘Love is in the Air’ on Saturday, February 9 at Connection Cafe in Holbrook. Photo courtesy of South Shore Theatre Works

We do many projects as an all-year-round group and keep adding more shows that have purpose. We launched Second Saturday Cabarets the second Saturday of every month which includes five or six performers. They do their own set in front of a live audience like the Don’t Tell Mama venue and nightclub in New York City.

We’ve had success with the SSTW Youth Division. We decided last summer to do not just one youth production, but to divide it into ages 6-13 and a 13-19 division with Aristocats and Heathers. This year we’re even more excited to do the same with The Lion King, Jr. and Carrie the Musical. We’re asking these kids to take an active part in choosing the shows. We also took on a new challenge by doing a summer camp last year and we’re looking forward to continuing it this year.

We had wonderful opportunities to empower some of our actors from different shows to take on new roles. Urinetown actress Stephanie Wallace and I co-directed Seussical because she took an interest in directing. Urinetown actress Jaclyn Cleary choreographed a couple of numbers in Seussical because took an interest in choreography. We give people a well-rounded experience to be onstage in one show and offstage in another and still feel that same passion in those experiences.

Support us financially by being an audience member and an active South Shore Theatre Works member. Visit out website, sign up for our emails, keep in touch, and find that one project where you really want to help. Support the arts in any way possible and spread the word about South Shore Theatre Works.

Click here for a closer look on how to support South Shore Theatre Works. Call 774-386-8258 and follow them on Facebook for a closer look at their current season and more.