wicktheatre > Archive > Performances > Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit

The Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre

March 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 1984

Blithe Spirit

by Noël Coward
Directed by
Douglas Tucker


| Archive |Gallery |

1188403__blithe-spirit_playbill

“Pure enjoyment”
– Shoreham Herald –

Cast


Karen Mulholland – Edith [a maid]

Joan Bearman – Ruth

Neil Shepherd – Charles

Ronald Cheesman – Dr. Bradman

Frances Moulton – Mrs. Bradman

Sheila Wright – Madame Arcati

Miranda Bowen – Elvira

 

Production Crew

Stage DesignRalph Dawes

Stage ManagerRonald Cheesman

A.S.M.Margaret Davy

A.S.M.Jill Redman

A.S.M.Lucy Nemeth

A.S.M.Sally Kingsbury

ContinuityDaphne Thornton

Lighting DesignFrank Hurrell

Sound EffectsBarrie Bowen

Set ConstructionBrian Box

Set ConstructionDavid Comber

Set ConstructionMike Davy

Set ConstructionNicholas Fletcher

Set ConstructionMark Flower

Set ConstructionVincent Grech

Set ConstructionGillian Robertson

Scenery PainterVincent Joyce

Box OfficeFrances Thorne

Foyer DécorRosemary Biggs

Madame Arcati’s EffectsRosemary Biggs

 

Programme Note #1: Blithe Spirit

DT wrote; “I have been an enthusiastic admirer of Noël Coward’s work for nearly forty years, so it has given me much pleasure and an exciting challenge to have the opportunity of directing one of his most popular plays.
Blithe Spirit was written in six days during a holiday in North Wales in 1941 – hardly a line has been altered since. The master wrote it, as he says, as a result “of an idea for a light comedy which had been rattling at the door of my mind, and I thought that the time had come to let it in and show it a little courtesy”. The ‘idea’ when it was first performed later in 1941 ran for 1997 performances! Despite the fact that over forty years have elapsed, I think it is still tremendous fun and splendid ‘theatre’, which I hope you will all enjoy.

We welcome, Karen Mulholland in her first rôle in a ‘straight’ play with the senior company, although she is well-known as a longstanding member of the Young Wick group and for her performances in Wick musicals. This play also sees Sheila Wright in her first major rôle since Arsenic and Old Lace and we are very pleased to have her ‘treading the boards’ again. The remainder of the cast make regular appearances and the majority have worked with me in previous productions. They are obviously gluttons for punishment!

I am very grateful to all the cast and stage staff who have worked so hard to bring this production about in a very short period of time.”