The Armidale Drama and Musical Society’s next theatre production is Noel Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit, which opens on Friday, September 30 at the Hoskins Centre TAS.
Written in less than a week in 1941, Blithe Spirit was Coward’s way of offering the British public a light-hearted escape from the events of World War II that were unfolding around them and has since proved to be his most well-loved and widely performed work. The play premiered in the West End of London in 1941 and was made into a successful film in 1945, starring Margaret Rutherford as Madame Arcati and Rex Harrison as Charles.
Over the seventy years since it was written, the part of the wonderfully eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, has become one of Coward’s most famous comic creations and attracted many well-respected actresses, from Margaret Rutherford to Angela Lansbury, Penelope Keith, Miriam Margolyes and Alison Steadman.
Successful author, Charles Condomine, has invited Madame Arcati to dinner at their country home as background research for his new mystery novel. Ruth, his second wife, and their friends Dr and Mrs Bradman, expect the seance to simply provide some harmless amusement. Little do they know that Madame Arcati’s rather erratic contact with the Other Side will accidentally call forth the mischievous ghost of Charles’ first wife, Elvira. Ruth is initially unable to see or hear Elvira and thinks Charles has gone completely mad, while Elvira decides to have a wonderful time causing mayhem and conflict in Charles’ second marriage.
Ruth wants Elvira gone, but Elvira wants Charles for herself and poor Charles finds himself torn between two equally demanding wives.
However, Charles’ troubles are only just beginning”¦
Blithe Spirit is set in the 1930s and features some wonderfully posh English accents and the wit and charm of Coward at his very best.
The cast for Blithe Spirit are Greg Balcombe as Charles Condomine, Liz Ellis as Ruth Condomine, Deborah Hunter as Elvira, Anita Brown as Madame Arcati, Sarah Watson as Mrs Bradman, Brendon Collits as Dr Bradman and Maud Beissel as Edith, the maid.
The play is produced by David Trestrail and directed by Mark Bourne, who also directed Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey for the Armidale Playhouse in 2010.
Performances start at The Hoskins Centre TAS on September 30 and will run over three weekends until October 15, with a total of eight performances. Evening performances start at 7.30pm and Saturday matinees at 2pm.
For Blithe Spirit’s opening
night on Friday, September 30, we will also be offering cucumber sandwiches and Dry Martinis for sale, to help you really get into the 1930s spirit. So why not come along, it’s bound to be awfully good fun!
Tickets are on sale now at Dymocks – 02 6771 4558.
