Blithe Spirit
January 2013
The classic comedy Blithe Spirit by British playwright Noel Coward was The Gate Theater's first production for their 2013 season.
Set in the Summer of 2012 in the home of successful author Charles Condomine (John Davies) and his second wife Ruth (Joan Welch), Charles is about to start writing his next novel “The Unseen”, which features a homicidal medium. Deciding that he needs some background material, Charles invites eccentric medium Madame Arcarti (Joyce Matchett) to hold a séance at his home, and invites his friends George Bradman (Brian Brown) and George’s daughter Violet (Karen Dodgson) to join in the fun.
Things go awry when the ghost of Charles’ first wife Elvira (Gabriella Draboczi) is instead summoned from “the other side”, though only Charles (and the audience) can see or hear Elvira.Not all is as it seems however, as chaos ensues, Ruth deciding that Charles is trying to drive her mad, Elvira plots her own schemes, and the Condomine’s incompetent maid Edith (Dee Fancett) falls down the stairs and is confined to bed. After further misadventures, the truth behind Elvira’s re-appearance is revealed andpeace of a sort returns.
This comedy has delighted audiences all over the world, and has been gently updated by the director Simon Welch to reflect the play’s multinational cast, without losing any of the delights of the original.
The play was presented at the Studio Theater, 7th Floor Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Mall, Huay Kaew Road on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the 24th, 25th, and 26th January at 7.00 pm with a matinee on Sunday 27th January at 2 p.m.
Set in the Summer of 2012 in the home of successful author Charles Condomine (John Davies) and his second wife Ruth (Joan Welch), Charles is about to start writing his next novel “The Unseen”, which features a homicidal medium. Deciding that he needs some background material, Charles invites eccentric medium Madame Arcarti (Joyce Matchett) to hold a séance at his home, and invites his friends George Bradman (Brian Brown) and George’s daughter Violet (Karen Dodgson) to join in the fun.
Things go awry when the ghost of Charles’ first wife Elvira (Gabriella Draboczi) is instead summoned from “the other side”, though only Charles (and the audience) can see or hear Elvira.Not all is as it seems however, as chaos ensues, Ruth deciding that Charles is trying to drive her mad, Elvira plots her own schemes, and the Condomine’s incompetent maid Edith (Dee Fancett) falls down the stairs and is confined to bed. After further misadventures, the truth behind Elvira’s re-appearance is revealed andpeace of a sort returns.
This comedy has delighted audiences all over the world, and has been gently updated by the director Simon Welch to reflect the play’s multinational cast, without losing any of the delights of the original.
The play was presented at the Studio Theater, 7th Floor Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Mall, Huay Kaew Road on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the 24th, 25th, and 26th January at 7.00 pm with a matinee on Sunday 27th January at 2 p.m.
