Blithe Spirit

by Noël Coward

 

“Blithe Spirit” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

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Directed by Sher-Lynne Estes and Kelly Edwards

Produced by Susie Tilley

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Audition Dates:

May 4th from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

May 5th from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Callbacks May 11th from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

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Audition Location:

Masonic Theatre, 514 Hancock St, New Bern, NC 28560

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Performance Dates:

August 2, 3, 9, 10 2024 at 7:30 PM

August 4, 11 2024 at 3:00 PM

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Preparation:

Prepare a one minute comedic monologue and be ready for cold reads.

CASTING: Adults, age 18-80; all ethnicities.

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Please signup to audition here. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BAAAF2AA0FAC70-48920061-blithe

 

*If you are unable to attend auditions and would like to make arrangements for a video audition, please contact SheriLynneEstes@gmail.com 

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Rehearsals begin May 28th

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Summary

A smash comedy hit in London and New York, this much-revived classic from the playwright of Private Lives concerns fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, who has remarried but finds himself haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. Clever, insistent and well aware of Charles' shortcomings, Elvira is called up by a visiting “happy medium,” the eccentric and flighty Madame Arcati. As everyone's personalities clash, Charles’ current wife, Ruth, is accidentally killed. She “passes over” and joins Elvira, allowing the two “blithe spirits” to haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity.

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History

Blithe Spirit premiered on Broadway at the Morosco Theatre on November 5, 1941. Directed and produced by John C. Wilson, the production featured Clifton Webb, Leonora Corbett, Mildred Natwick and Peggy Wood. The play returned to Broadway in 1987, featuring Richard Chamberlain, Blythe Danner, Judith Ivey and Geraldine Page. A 2009 Broadway revival, directed by Michael Blakemore, featured Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, Jayne Atkinson and Angela Lansbury. Lansbury, who was 83 years old at the time, won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

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Character Descriptions:

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• Charles Condomine (Age 30-45)- Charles Condomine, a novelist. Charles is bright, sophisticated, articulate, and debonair but somewhat at the mercy of his wives, past and present. His interest in spiritualism as a subject for a novel leads Charles to ask Madame Arcati to dinner and a séance. He is skeptical but becomes a believer when the ghost of his first wife appears—and stays.

• Ruth Condomine (Age 25-45) - Ruth Condomine, Charles’s second wife. Like her husband, Ruth is witty and sophisticated, and she is quite the society matron. Ruth is a bit stuffy and a little predictable. She is convinced that Charles has lost his mind when Elvira appears. Ruth acts as a concerned wife, trying to restore Charles to normalcy.

• Elvira (Age 25-45)- Elvira, the ghost of Charles’s first wife. Only Charles can see or hear her. In life, Elvira was spirited, outgoing, wild, and carefree. In death, she is no different; she socializes with Genghis Khan. She does love Charles, if somewhat casually, and is jealous of Ruth.

• Madame Arcati (Age 44-80) - Madame Arcati, the local spiritualist and medium. Elderly but spry, Madame Arcati comes into the play talking to an eight-year-old contact on the other side. She truly is in contact with the other world and inadvertently is the “medium” through which Elvira is called back to this one. She is eccentric, effusive and boisterous.

• Dr. George Bradman (Age 45-60) - Dr. George Bradman is a good friend of the Condomines who is invited to dinner and the séance.  He is entirely skeptical of anything to do with the occult but tries his utmost to go along with the proceedings for the sake of Charles’ research.

• Violet Bradman (Age 40-55)- Violet Bradman is Dr. Bradman’s wife. Simple and naïve, she is quite excited about being in the presence of the medium, whom she finds fascinating.

• Edith (Age 18-28) - Edith is the Condomine’s new maid. She is nervous and tears around at breakneck speed trying to do things right and make a good impression. 

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