A classic short story by Oscar Wilde is the first presentation of a new series titled Across the Pond Theatre. This audio production joins the Open Door Playhouse Theatre (Pasadena, California) and Our Kid and Me Productions (Oxfordshire, UK). The Canterville Ghost is a seemingly perfect choice given its American and British characters.
This humorous story is a tale of an American family who move to an English country house. The house is haunted. The Americans move in despite the warnings as they do not believe in ghosts. The early goings suggest multiple paths. Will this be a mystery and who is “playing” ghost? Or is this truly a ghost story?
Sir Simon de Canterville is the spirit in question. Many moons earlier he apparently murdered his wife. Her brothers got their revenge and he was doomed to an eternal existence in this mansion. The first sign is a mysterious bloodstain on the floor. Bloodstains on the carpet will not do at all!
Simon is a real apparition, thankfully. His haunting skills do not seem to faze the family and, especially, the three children. The twins in particular are funny balls of mischievous energy. Daughter Virginia has a more thoughtful role to play and becomes the heart and soul of the story.
This version is an adaption by Bernadette Armstrong with John and David Hunter. The performance is about 45 minutes long and covers the bases well. Thunder, lightning and rain open the recording and set the mood. A bloodstain recurs “redder and bloodier than ever.” Mysterious and persistent noises continue. Ominously “two skeleton hands” were “placed on her shoulder as she was dressing for dinner.”
The territory is definitely comedy but Mr. Wilde expands the scope to include the concepts of love and the meaning of life. The casts wrings out the humor reasonably well. Using both British and American actors provides a jarring authenticity to the two different perspectives. While I was listening, I found some of the Americans speech too contemporary which took me out of the story. Thinking afterward, the stylistic variations can be perceived as a exaggerated take on a comedy of manners brought into the present.
The Canterville Ghost is an easy diversion with good pacing to the storytelling. Virginia, the heroine at the center of the tale, is praised for her “marvelous courage and pluck.” Now there’s an expression which perfectly describes this character’s bearing. Nothing is insurmountable if you have the guts and guile to face a situation and do the honorable thing.
The Canterville Ghost is now available on the company’s website.
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