Blithe Spirit
by Noël Coward
March 16th - 18th, 2012
CHARLES: Well, to begin with, I haven’t forgotten Elvira. I remember her very distinctly indeed. I remember how fascinating she was, and how maddening. I remember how badly she played all games and how cross she got when she didn’t win. I remember her gay charm when she had achieved her own way over something and her extreme acidity when she didn’t. I remember her physical attractiveness, which was tremendous, and her spiritual integrity, which was nil.
Written in a mere five days in 1941, Blithe Spirit tells the story of Charles Condomine, a novelist working on a book about the occult. In order to research his novel, Charles invites eccentric local medium Madame Arcati to perform a séance at his house. Much to his surprise, the séance is a success, and Charles inadvertently summons the ghost of his late wife, Elvira. Needless to say, this creates a tremendous amount of tension between Charles and his current wife, Ruth, who suspects that her ghostly predecessor will do anything to be reunited with her former husband--even kill him!
Poster designed by Okanagan College Writing and Publishing student Caitlin Voth.
CAST
EDITH – Chelsea Konechny
RUTH CONDOMINE – Jessie Greer
CHARLES CONDOMINE – James Paley
DR. GEORGE BRADMAN – Mike Boulter
VIOLET BRADMAN – Ann Marie Ruether
MADAME ARCATI – Dorothy Dalba
ELVIRA CONDOMINE – Laura Savoie
DAPHNE – Kate Boulter
CREW
COSTUMES – Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether
DIRECTOR – Jeremy Beaulne
FRONT OF HOUSE – Leanna Jantzi
GHOST WRANGLERS – Lauren Schafer, Mike Minions, Dwight Carroll, Kate Boulter, Lorne Davis
LIGHTS – Jeremy Johnston, Mike Minions
PHOTOGRAPHER – Mike Minions
POSTER – Caitlin Voth
PRODUCERS – Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether, Mike Minions, Jeremy Beaulne
PROGRAM DESIGN – Caitlin Voth
PROPS – Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether, Dwight Carroll, Mike Boulter, Jeremy Beaulne
SEAMSTRESS – Ann Marie Ruether
SET – Dwight Carroll, Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether, Mike Boulter, Jeremy Beaulne
SOUND – Kaitlin Shuvera
TICKETS – Ann Marie Ruether, Leanna Jantzi
EDITH – Chelsea Konechny
RUTH CONDOMINE – Jessie Greer
CHARLES CONDOMINE – James Paley
DR. GEORGE BRADMAN – Mike Boulter
VIOLET BRADMAN – Ann Marie Ruether
MADAME ARCATI – Dorothy Dalba
ELVIRA CONDOMINE – Laura Savoie
DAPHNE – Kate Boulter
CREW
COSTUMES – Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether
DIRECTOR – Jeremy Beaulne
FRONT OF HOUSE – Leanna Jantzi
GHOST WRANGLERS – Lauren Schafer, Mike Minions, Dwight Carroll, Kate Boulter, Lorne Davis
LIGHTS – Jeremy Johnston, Mike Minions
PHOTOGRAPHER – Mike Minions
POSTER – Caitlin Voth
PRODUCERS – Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether, Mike Minions, Jeremy Beaulne
PROGRAM DESIGN – Caitlin Voth
PROPS – Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether, Dwight Carroll, Mike Boulter, Jeremy Beaulne
SEAMSTRESS – Ann Marie Ruether
SET – Dwight Carroll, Leanna Jantzi, Ann Marie Ruether, Mike Boulter, Jeremy Beaulne
SOUND – Kaitlin Shuvera
TICKETS – Ann Marie Ruether, Leanna Jantzi
The Red Dot Players Conjure Up a Blithe Spirit at Okanagan College
Playwright Noël Coward tackles marriage, mortality, and much more in Blithe Spirit, the hilarious supernatural comedy being presented by the Red Dot Players on March 16, 17, and 18 at Okanagan College.
As the curtain rises on Blithe Spirit, Charles and Ruth Condomine are hosting a séance at their home. Charles, a novelist writing a book set in the world of the occult, has arranged for the eccentric Madame Arcati to perform a séance as part of his research. Much to his amazement, the séance is a success, and he inadvertently summons the spirit of his late first wife, Elvira. Things become even more alarming for Charles when he learns that his ghostly former spouse will do anything to be reunited with him—even kill him!
Although he wrote it in a mere five days, Blithe Spirit was one of Noël Coward’s most successful plays, enjoying lengthy runs in London and New York. In 1945, David Lean directed a film adaptation of Blithe Spirit starring Rex Harrison and Margaret Rutherford. Since then, the play has been revived on Broadway several times, most recently in a 2009 production featuring Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury.
Jeremy Beaulne, the director of the Red Dot Players’ production of Blithe Spirit, says he was drawn to the play for a number of reasons. “Coward’s dialogue is very witty and urbane, and the play has some great visual gags,” says Beaulne. “But I also think Blithe Spirit has some really interesting things to say about marriage and how it changes over time.”
The Red Dot Players is a theatre troupe consisting of Okanagan College students and employees and community volunteers. The cast of their current production includes Chelsea Konechny, Jessie Greer, James Paley, Mike Boulter, Ann Marie Ruether, Dorothy Dalba, and Laura Savoie.
Performances of Blithe Spirit will take place on March 16 and 17 at 7:30 and on March 18 at 2 p.m. in the Okanagan College Theatre, located at 1000 KLO Road in Kelowna. Tickets can be purchased at Mosaic Books, the Okanagan College Bookstore, and the door.
As the curtain rises on Blithe Spirit, Charles and Ruth Condomine are hosting a séance at their home. Charles, a novelist writing a book set in the world of the occult, has arranged for the eccentric Madame Arcati to perform a séance as part of his research. Much to his amazement, the séance is a success, and he inadvertently summons the spirit of his late first wife, Elvira. Things become even more alarming for Charles when he learns that his ghostly former spouse will do anything to be reunited with him—even kill him!
Although he wrote it in a mere five days, Blithe Spirit was one of Noël Coward’s most successful plays, enjoying lengthy runs in London and New York. In 1945, David Lean directed a film adaptation of Blithe Spirit starring Rex Harrison and Margaret Rutherford. Since then, the play has been revived on Broadway several times, most recently in a 2009 production featuring Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury.
Jeremy Beaulne, the director of the Red Dot Players’ production of Blithe Spirit, says he was drawn to the play for a number of reasons. “Coward’s dialogue is very witty and urbane, and the play has some great visual gags,” says Beaulne. “But I also think Blithe Spirit has some really interesting things to say about marriage and how it changes over time.”
The Red Dot Players is a theatre troupe consisting of Okanagan College students and employees and community volunteers. The cast of their current production includes Chelsea Konechny, Jessie Greer, James Paley, Mike Boulter, Ann Marie Ruether, Dorothy Dalba, and Laura Savoie.
Performances of Blithe Spirit will take place on March 16 and 17 at 7:30 and on March 18 at 2 p.m. in the Okanagan College Theatre, located at 1000 KLO Road in Kelowna. Tickets can be purchased at Mosaic Books, the Okanagan College Bookstore, and the door.