Spoon River

Soulpepper's revival of Spoon River, written in 1915 by Edgar Lee Masters, reminds me of many things, another trip to "Our Town," "Once" set in a graveyard instead of a bar, Agnes DeMille's spirited dances Fall River Legend and A Bridegroom Called Death. Entering the theatre is quite an occasion as one is greeted, in blackness, by the families of the deceased, mourners, even a coffin with a person inside. Seating sections are family, passerbys etc. The 90 intermissionless minutes pass by very quickly with epitaphs and poems on 212 separate characters (many based on real people) in the fictional town of Spoon River. In 2011 it was adapted into a theatre production, and Soulpepper have pulled out all the stops. One can see why it was a hit last year, and I am sure it will be in their repertoire for years to come.

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit at the Princess of Wales, with Angela Lansbury (winner of Tonys for Anyone Can Whistle, Mame, Dear World, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd), is the best production of Noel Coward's play that I have had the pleasure to see. Brilliantly directed by Michael Blakemore, and beautifully set by Simon Higlett and lit by Mark Jonathan, co-starring Downton Abbey's Charles Edwards, one could not ask for more. I have seen many productions of this play starting in the late 1950s at the Red Barn Theatre, at the Royal Alexandra, and Stratford with Seana McKenna. and of course the 1945 David Lean film with Rex Harrison and Margaret Rutherford, which won Oscar for special effects. Broadway has had Angela, Mildred Natwick, and Geraldine Page play Madame Arcati.