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[[double line]]]] In a Coward Play, respect for the language is essential [[image - black & white photograph of a man and woman in formal attire]] Chamberlain is reunited with the spirit of his first wife, Blythe Danner. play which, done without delicacy, can sound like a treatise against women. This revival of Blithe Spirit is fortunate in having two extremely likeable actress playing the wives, which takes an immediate edge off both characters. And while Ivey and Danner are aware of the pitfalls of their roles, they are not particularly worried about them. "The trap in playing Ruth is that she can be the prim, proper prude." asserts Ivey. "She's onto Charles about doing everything correctly, she's berating the maid, she's preparing a dinner party which has to be exactly right. But that's her job; she's the lady of the house, and she knows how to do that very well. Yet you also see another side of her. The thing that's so much fun about playing Ruth is the fact that she has to, at some point, believe that Elvira is there, even though she can't see her. She's willing to talk to absolute space, simply because her husband told her that Elvira is there. And the fact that she would suspend her own disbelief and confront Elvira is very loving of her." While Danner admits that "it's a very easy work in which to hate women," she is convinced that it wont be an issue in this production. "The approach we are taking is to make Elvira - and everyone else - very human," she says. "When she first enters she has no idea where she is, and she has to get her earth legs, so to speak. She was a powerful woman, but she hasn't been as woman - she hasn't been anything - for years. So she's awkward being in a body and feels insecure. I think it's a very compassionate approach. Most people fall into the trap of trying to play Coward with an arch Noel Coward delivery, a cigarette holder up in the air and that stance - imitation Coward. And that just doesn't work." Chamberlain can attest to that firsthand. "I did Private Lives in summer stock right after 'Dr. Kildare,'" he recalls, "and I don't think anybody has ever been worse in anything. I went in thinking it would be fun and frolic and very easy because it's so funny. Well, was I in for a surprise. I didn't do one thing right. I allowed myself to be completely dominated by the image of Noel Coward playing the part, and I tried to be Noel Coward, which is absolutely wrong. "So for Blithe Spirit I decided to try to find Charles in the most realistic way, and in the most personal way to me," he continues. "And then, I'm assuming that the demands of the play will help create the style of it. Because if you just walk in and start playing style, you start doing Noel Coward the way most actors do it - miserably." An essential ingredient in putting over any Coward play is a respect for and understanding of the language. "The way Noel Coward uses words is delicious," says Geraldine Page. "I love his plays, because they're so funny and poetic. And I've always felt that all of his works contain a fundamental human knowledge that is very valid, which is certainly true of Blithe Spirit." 22 [[end page]] [[start page]] [[advertisement]] Complete your set [[image - coin from Thailand]] [[image - coin from Australia]] [[image - coin from Japan]] [[image - coin from New Zealand]] [[image - coin from Taiwan]] [[image - coin from Republic of Korea]] [[image - coin from Peoples Republic of China]] [[image - coin from Hong Kong]] [[image - coin from The Philippines]] [[image - coin from Singapore]] If you're travelling across the Pacific, flying the friendly skies can be a great way to build your coin collection - or just build a collection of great memories. United's Royal Pacific Service can take you to thirteen Pacific cities from all 50 states. More fascinating destinations over there from more cities over here than any other airline in the world. To start your collection, just call your Travel Agent. Or call United. It could be the start of a lifelong hobby. [[image - drawing of a United airplane, with text: fly the friendly skies]] United [[/advertisement]]
