Blithe Spirit haunts and taunts Thorold audiences

NEWS RELEASE
THOROLD COMMUNITY THEATRE
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Thorold Community Theatre presents Noël Coward’s timeless classic, Blithe Spirit. Billed as a comedy about death, it was first staged in 1941 in London’s West End. The play has been restaged and adopted for cinema countless times since then, featuring the likes of Dame Angela Lansbury, Judi Dench, Ruthie Henshall, Rex Harrison, and others.

Thorold Community Theatre’s (TCT) take on this gem opens Friday Nov. 18 at the Community Hall of Trinity United Church in Thorold.

The story takes place at the home of socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who is in search of inspiration for his next novel. Intrigued by a public performance he had recently witnessed, Charles invites an eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to conduct a séance at his home. The scheme backfires when the hapless medium inadvertently conjures up the ghost of Charles’ jealous and temperamental first wife, Elvira. Elvira proceeds to torment her scoundrel husband and scorn his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

The play is rife with mirth and magic and was a bit of a stretch goal for TCT’s cast and crew.

“The stage directions are pretty straight forward, but there are also some mystical elements we worked hard to stage,” says director, Mary Ann O’Neill-Park. “We have a talented cast and production crew, and I’m really proud of the job they did bringing Blithe Spirit to life.”

Blithe Spirit has been in rehearsal since August, and the technical crew have been working hard on the special effects. Says O’Neill-Park, “Community theatre is great for sparking imagination because we don’t have the budget for elaborate special effects. We’ve achieved nearly the same impact with very limited resources.”

Coward’s script is a challenge for contemporary actors, as it’s written in refined, very British English. The humour is subtle at times, and some of the phrasing is structured differently than how we speak today, notes O’Neill-Park. “The actors must get their lines just right to bring out Coward’s wit.” 

TCT is pleased to welcome several new cast and crew members to the group for this production, and we’re hoping to welcome some new audience members too. After sitting out two seasons of great amateur theatre, TCT is very excited to present Blithe Spirit, our second post-pandemic production.

“I think audiences will have a lot of fun with this show,” says O’Neill-Park. “Almost everyone is familiar with the play, and many have seen the film or stage versions. Of course, familiarity invites comparison, but I’m very confident that we’ve done credit to Noël Coward’s classic.” 

Coward achieved enduring success as a playwright, publishing more than 50 plays from his teens onwards. Many of his works, such as Private Lives, Present Laughter, and Blithe Spirit, have remained in the regular theatre repertoire. Coward's stage and film acting and directing career spanned six decades, during which he starred in many of his own works, as well as those of others.

Blithe Spirit Cast of Characters:

Bridget Smith as Ruth Condomine

Jonathon Jurmain as Charles Condomine

Carolyn Gibson as Madam Arcati

Meaghan Rojas as Elvira

Amanda Garvin as Edith

Gerry McManamy as Mrs. Bradman

Mark Roberts as Dr Bradman

Cover painting by Kim Overholt.

Blythe Spirit runs from November 18th to December 4th, 2022, at the Community Hall of Trinity United Church, 15 Pine St. South, Thorold. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain.

Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online through Eventbrite or at one of our offsite box offices (cash only): Haine Funeral Home and Chapel, 26 Ormond Street, Thorold, and Jack Nash Fine Clothiers, 400 Scott Street, St. Catharines.

We encourage our patrons to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Community Care. 
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