Richard Fitt reviews Spirit Level

Spirit Level
by Pam Valentine
performed by Waterbeach Theatre Company
directed by Chris Shinn

One of the pleasures of my job is coming across plays and playwrights that are a little out of ordinary and might otherwise pass me by. This Pam Valentine play directed by Chris Shinn was certainly one of those little gems.

Set entirely in the living room of Jack and Susie Cameron's home, Cobbler's Cottage, we quickly discover that they are in fact ghosts, having drowned in a boating accident in Italy some weeks earlier. However, upon arrival at the Pearly Gates they are turned away after Jack, who in his previous life was a well-known crime writer, declares he is an atheist and they are both returned to earth to haunt their own home. To entertain themselves they play poltergeists by moving objects around in the vain hope it will prevent the local estate agent, Mark Webster letting their home, and making him doubt his own sanity to boot. A young couple, Simon, himself an aspiring crime writer and his pregnant wife Flic move in. Simon, overawed when he discovers this is the home of the famous writer is himself however struggling with his book and through some very amusing telepathy Jack and Susie try to help him with the plot. Meanwhile Flic's monstrous snobbish mother, Marcia 'The Beast of Basingstoke' imposes herself upon them doing her best to separate them. Susie then accidentally summons her guardian angel who turns up complete with modern mobile phone and a direct link to St Peter.

The set, designed by Mark Easterfield and constructed by Mark Easterfield and Chris Shinn assisted by Terry Betterman, Jane Boden, James Dowson, Christine Easterfield and Julie Petrucci was a classic, well wallpapered and decorated cosy-cottage living room complete with French Windows and exit to the garden with a very well painted garden backdrop. The furniture was a sofa, an armchair, a desk and chair with a laptop, upon which Simon was 'trying' to write his crime novel, and a bookcase containing all Jack Cameron's published books. The set was very well dressed by Jane Boden. For the last two scenes of the second act we switched to Christmas where Simon and Flic are decorating their Christmas tree, with a little help from a couple of poltergeists. When the curtains were opened the garden scene had been well winterised complete with falling snow. The French doors didn't quite close properly and were slightly ajar which might have cooled the room somewhat.

Costumes by Joy Sinclair were appropriate for all the characters, a formal suit and tie for Mark, the Estate Agent and lighter one for Jack with Simon in more casual dress, as was Flic. Susie was in a striking long red dress and flic's mother was of course dressed to the nines, perfectly accentuating her snobby attitude, But the best of all was the frumpy Guardian Angel, dressed in tweed, which produced a chuckle or two from the audience. Very clever.

The acting was excellent, a good strong cast who worked well together. Chas Barclay played it with a light comic touch emphasising Jack's dry sense of humour. Very poignant, but still amusing scene when he is forced to turn from atheist to full on believer to save the baby. He was well complimented by Marcelle Oliver as his wife Susie. Loved the scenes where they were telepathically getting Simon to repeat what Jack was advising via Susie's hands on the top of Simon's head. You really felt her angst over her concern for the baby. And were those real tears? Superb bit of acting.

Tom Bonser as Simon and Vicki Hingley as Flic were also very well matched. He the more thoughtful and her the more anxious as 'the bump' increases in size leading up to the birth.

Rosie Wilson as the archetypal interfering mother-in-law, Marcia was an absolute brilliant stereotype of every son-law's worst nightmare. The scene where she is made by Jack and Susie to come on to Mark was a highlight belly laugh. NODA Review

Paul Lockwood as Mark had facial expressions absolutely mastered. The look on his face both dealing with the strange goings on and with the assault by Flic's mother was priceless.

Tina Seeley as the frumpy tweed wearing Guardian Angel was the icing on the cake in this highly amusing comedy.

It took me a while to get into this play which started off as quite a low key, slow burner, but just got funnier as each scene went by as we got to know the characters, but by the end the audience was laughing at almost every line and probably best summed up by my other half, who came away saying, I thoroughly enjoyed that!

So, congratulations to Director Chris Shinn, his cast and crew on a well presented, highly entertaining evening.

Richard Fitt
Regional Representative NODA East
District 4N