“A lot of it has to do with research,” said Woltjen. “It always comes down to what’s in the script and Coward has written an intensely charming and witty piece. The design should follow that and represent Noel’s best. We’ve taken some licence with the period, taking elements from the ‘30s and ‘40s and attributing them to certain characters based on their thinking.”
Although set in the ‘40s during the blitz, Blithe Spirit was in many ways a reaction against that dour austerity. “It was written at a time of intense depression and it was written as an offset for that. In many ways it does address it in the final scene where the poltergeist brings the house crashing down.” Hence Woltjen felt some freedom of not being bound to the historical era, in fact some of the inspirations come from as late as the ‘50s, adding a tinge of the strange to many of the ghostly elements present. The ghostly former wife Elvira, was especially challenging and exciting. “After all, how often do you get to design for the undead?”
The costuming also allowed for other elements to come out from Coward’s work, not only expressing something about them, but also their relationship to other characters. “The wordplay between Rita and Charles sets up a backbiting couple for whom the relationship is starting to fray. We’ve chosen a dominant colour for each character and it is interesting where some of the colours clash.” This allows for a visual journey for the characters, that reinforces their narrative one.
Woltjen’s diverse work experiences, from Spare Part Puppet Theatre to Dash Arts London, have allowed him a unique perspective on the set design as well. “After university I worked with puppet making and have lots of experience with puppets. That has been an influence on how I design sets. I like sets to have a kind of articulation and an animated quality to them as well. The whole work has a notion of surrealism in the effects of the other world. There are a whole lot of tricks in here that contribute into making the space strange, little things pepper the play. Set in the living room of Charles and Rita which is often portrayed as a comfortable regional England family home.” This production takes it beyond that, adding a twist based on the characters. “I’ve taken the idea that Charles as a writer and artist, and wanted an eclectic space – a large Georgian constructed warehouse apartment (going for that “artist” ideal). The set is also a representation of Charles’ mind, it is another character, it moves and influences the world.”
The meticulous design work and innovative staging are good portents for this coming production of a Noel Coward classic.
Blithe Spirit runs at the State Theatre Centre from Saturday, July 18, until Sunday, August 9.
Originally published in X-Press Magazine
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