Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Kindred Spirits is a delightful evening at the theatre. With beautiful sets and costumes, professional actors, eerie special effects they conjure up more than a few laughs. This new play has a clever script by Alice Scovell, who brought CSC’s The Rewards of Being Frank last season. This is a great evening of escape, that’s both intelligent and silly. If you are a fan of the CBS television series GHOSTS, this unofficial sequel of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit is for you. Even if you never saw Blithe Spirit, you will easily follow the story and it will entertain you
Here’s the plot of Kindred Spirits
In Kent, England after the War, a wealthy writer and widower Charles Condomine (Austin Tichenor) is in a May December romance with Avis Walker (Connie Castanzo). He brings her to the family estate and proposes, in front of the pictures of his former wives Elvira (Courtney Lucien), Ruth (Jasimine Bouldin) and his Mother Gertrude (Christine Pedi). The bubbly Avis is still working as a hat check girl, clearly focusing on elderly wealthy bachelors, but not interested in any of the baggage or sentimentality that comes with him.
Condomine invites a realtor to the house, thinking Avis doesn’t want the stuffy country home. The realtor, Madame Arcati (Kelly Mengelkoch), is also a psychic, and senses spirits in the house. The spirits of the two dead wives eventually appear. Enemies in Blithe Spirit, they join forces against Avis and become “kindred spirits” and proceed to haunt her. Avis blames the writer’s ever present and capable secretary Claire Porter (Tora Nogami Alexander) for the hauntings, and is determined to get rid of her.
Kudos to Directing, Design and Technical Team
This show is in director Brian Isaac Philips’ wheelhouse. Clever wordplay, physical humor, and a set which works well for the action. The pacing is quick and sharp. The scenery designed by Samantha Reno is gorgeous: beautiful mauves and burgundies, parquet floors, a crystal chandelier and flowing lace curtains. Front and center is mother’s portrait with her adorable pup. The design team has great attention to detail, with doors that close well—and open well. There are a number of G-rated spooky effects, well executed in lighting (Watson) and timing.
Costume Designer Rainy Edwards’ clothes are gorgeous. The women’s gowns fit so well and evoke the 20s, 30s and 40s as appropriate. Makeup is well designed and applied so the spirits of the wives and mother are highly effective. Good sound work by Kevin Semancik, also. For example, the mix between the audience and the radio on stage is well done, placing the audience into the scene.
Clever Script
There are a lot of clever lines in the script, written in the style of Noel Coward. It is mostly sophisticated wordplay with some physical comedy–mostly from Avis and Madame Arcati. However, there were a few times I was confused, such as when the psychic enters. I didn’t know what happened to the realtor. I was probably so focused on the outfit and the acting I missed the lines. Also, pre-show, a maid appears. I kept expecting her during the rest of the show. The ending is a surprise, and quite 21st century, receiving applause.
There are a lot of references to Shakespeare, primarily Hamlet. On Opening Night it was a treat to see the cast of the current CSC touring show in the audience react and enjoy the references. (Click here for the Hamlet schedule and check out this well performed free abbreviated version of Hamlet coming to a local park near you!)
Strong Performances
Castanzo as Avis is a joy. Perfectly coiffed and dressed, she brings a little bit of Alexis Rose (from the Canadian television show Schitt’s Creek) to her gold digger character. She has strong timing and executes her physical comedy well.
Kelly Mengelkoch as Madame Arcati is hysterical. From her first moment on stage, you will be focused on her outlandish getups and personality. She looks like she is having so much fun with this character, you can’t help but smile. (I adore her second act coat.)
Alexander’s Claire, the secretary who secretly loves her boss, shows strength and fire, and has quite a range in playing a character who often tries to be invisible.
Tichenor does a fine job as Condomine. He hits his stride in Act 2. Christine Pedi as his mother, creates a great character and is frightfully imposing, yet has room to be even bigger. (One thing that pulled me out of the scene–a grand dame would be crossing her legs at the ankles, not the knees.)
The Spirits have a great rapport. Elvira (Lucien) is socially driven and Ruth (Bouldin) is an intellectual who align forces against Avis. Both use movement and their costumes beautifully for an etherial effect. They make a great team with Gertrude (Pedi).
All of the actors perform this World Premiere script well, but I missed a number of lines or jokes due to either having an actor’s back toward me or needing a bit more volume. (This is rare at CSC.)
Overall: Kindred Spirits is solid
If you are looking for a light, clever story and some laughs Kindred Spirits will fit the bill, and delight you with gorgeous scenery and costumes.
Tickets
Get tickets at CSC’s box office here. Kindred Spirits runs through August 18. Note: On Opening Night at least, you could sign up for a tarot card reading. Look for a small sign up table as you enter the lobby.
