Blithe Spiritwritten byNoel Cowarddirected byLouise Kerryperformed atThe Colour HouseJuly 1998 |
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Blithe Spiritwritten byNoel Cowarddirected byLouise Kerryperformed atThe Colour HouseJuly 1998 |
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One man, two wives and a psychic. Charles Condomine finds himself tangled in a web of spirits, seances and sophistry after a surprise visit from his deceased ex-wife Elvira. Things take an unexpected turn and suddenly it's one man, two ghosts and a psychic.
Noel Coward was the second of three sons born to Violet and Arthur Coward of Teddington, Middlesex. He began his professional acting career in 1911 as Prince Mussel in The Goldfish. In the next few years he produced, wrote or starred in I'll Leave It To You, The Young Idea, The Vortex, Hayfever and Easy Virtue. In 1927 he composed the famous song A Room With A View.
Two years later he directed the West End production of Bitter Sweet which he wrote and the following year produced Private Lives on stage. This play was filmed in 1931. In 1933 his play Design for Living was produced.
He wrote Blithe Spirit in five days in 1941 and it opened within six weeks. It went on to have one of the longest runs in British theatre. He wrote afterwards:
"I shall always be grateful for this almost psychic gift that enabled me to write Blithe Spirit in five days during one of the darkest years of the war. It was not meticulously constructed in advance and only one day elapsed between its original conception and the moment. I sat down to write it. It fell into my mind and onto the manuscript."
Critics said he never again equalled Blithe Spirit. When Blithe Spirit was on stage he wrote
"Had a few drinks, then went to The Savoy, pretty bad blitz... a couple of bombs fell very near during dinner and the door fell in. Orchestra went on playing... I sang... on the whole, a very strange and amusing evening"
In 1942 he appeared in the play as Charles Condomine, and in 1944 the play was filmed. In 1944 he wrote the screenplay for Brief Encounter.
Throughout the forties, fifties and early sixties his productions - like Peace in Our Time, Ace of Clubs, Nude With Violin and Waiting in the Wings - graced the London stage. In 1966 he appeared for the last time in the West End in Suite In Three Keys.
He was knighted in 1970, just three years before he died. Towards the end of his life he wrote "Really, my life has been one long extravaganza"
Louise Kerry, Director
| Edith (a maid) | ~ | Joanne Crabtree |
| Ruth | ~ | Ruth Brooks |
| Charles | ~ | John Gargrave |
| Dr. Bradman | ~ | Jeff Graves |
| Mrs. Bradman | ~ | Rosemary Hunt |
| Madame Arcarti | ~ | Philippa Booth |
| Elvira | ~ | Liza Allison |
| Director | ~ | Louise Kerry |
| Stage manager | ~ | Charles Bertram |
| Lighting Design | ~ | Georgina Gunn |
| Sound design | ~ | Chris Lee-Delisle |
| Set design | ~ | Mike Tierny |
| Publicity | ~ | Joanne Crabtree |
| Front of House | ~ | Penny Stone and friends |
| Artwork | ~ | Louise Kerry and Pippa Booth |
| Webpage | ~ | Simon Harris, update by Matthew Petty |
Elvira (Liza Allison), Dr Bradman (Jeff Graves), Ruth (Ruth Brooks) and Charles (John Gargrave)
Edith, the Maid (Joanne Crabtree)
Dr Bradman (Jeff Graves) and Madame Arcarti (Pippa Booth)
Elvira (Lisa Allison), Charles (John Gargrave) and Ruth (Ruth Brooks) - Yes, Elvira is supposed to be that ghostly colour!
The Stage Manager (Charles Bertram) in the Carlton's traditional low-visibility backstage dress.
