Charleston Stage presents "Blithe Spirit"
In Your Date Range
Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit Opens Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the College of Charleston Sottile Theatre
Suppose someone conjures up a ghost in your living room. Suppose that ghost is your deceased ex-wife? Suppose your new wife isn't terribly amused by this turn of events. That's the premise of Noel Coward's classic ghostly comedy, Blithe Spirit arriving just in time for Halloween.
"Rather than one of the traditional Halloween offerings such as Dracula or last season's Frankenstein," explains Charleston Stage Founder and Producing Artistic Director Julian Wiles who is directing Blithe Spirit, "we thought it would be fun to conjure up the hilarious Blithe Spirit, a hauntingly comic gem which has been delighting audiences since it first premiered in London in 1941. Hardly a year goes by without a major revival of Blithe Spirit, Noel Coward's most popular comedy-including the current Broadway revival that recently won Angela Lansbury her third Tony Award for playing the batty medium, Madame Arcati.
Blithe Spirit premiered in the midst of the London Blitz in 1941 and created such a buzz that even falling bombs could not keep audiences away. It was the most popular comedy in London throughout the war running for a record breaking 1,997 performances. Soon it was a hit in New York and soon after that a hit all over the world.
"Few comedies last so long for most become quickly dated," says Wiles, " but the age old battle of the sexes, which provides the fire for the comic sparks that fly in Blithe Spirit, never goes out of style. That this battle of the sexes is a bit lop-sided, one husband versus not one but two wives only adds to the comic mayhem."
Blithe Spirit, presented by Charleston Stage, plays October 7-18, 2009 at the College of Charleston Sottile Theatre (44 George Street, Downtown Charleston, SC). By Noel Coward, Directed by Julian Wiles, Scenic and Lighting Design by Stefanie Christensen, Properties by Michael Christensen, Costumes by Barbara Young, Sound Design by Amanda Wansa. Tickets available online 24 hours a day at www.charlestonstage.com. Tickets by phone available Mon-Fri 12:00 Noon-5PM (Also open Sat 12:00 noon-5PM Show Weeks only) by calling (843) 577-7183.
Suppose someone conjures up a ghost in your living room. Suppose that ghost is your deceased ex-wife? Suppose your new wife isn't terribly amused by this turn of events. That's the premise of Noel Coward's classic ghostly comedy, Blithe Spirit arriving just in time for Halloween.
"Rather than one of the traditional Halloween offerings such as Dracula or last season's Frankenstein," explains Charleston Stage Founder and Producing Artistic Director Julian Wiles who is directing Blithe Spirit, "we thought it would be fun to conjure up the hilarious Blithe Spirit, a hauntingly comic gem which has been delighting audiences since it first premiered in London in 1941. Hardly a year goes by without a major revival of Blithe Spirit, Noel Coward's most popular comedy-including the current Broadway revival that recently won Angela Lansbury her third Tony Award for playing the batty medium, Madame Arcati.
Blithe Spirit premiered in the midst of the London Blitz in 1941 and created such a buzz that even falling bombs could not keep audiences away. It was the most popular comedy in London throughout the war running for a record breaking 1,997 performances. Soon it was a hit in New York and soon after that a hit all over the world.
"Few comedies last so long for most become quickly dated," says Wiles, " but the age old battle of the sexes, which provides the fire for the comic sparks that fly in Blithe Spirit, never goes out of style. That this battle of the sexes is a bit lop-sided, one husband versus not one but two wives only adds to the comic mayhem."
Blithe Spirit, presented by Charleston Stage, plays October 7-18, 2009 at the College of Charleston Sottile Theatre (44 George Street, Downtown Charleston, SC). By Noel Coward, Directed by Julian Wiles, Scenic and Lighting Design by Stefanie Christensen, Properties by Michael Christensen, Costumes by Barbara Young, Sound Design by Amanda Wansa. Tickets available online 24 hours a day at www.charlestonstage.com. Tickets by phone available Mon-Fri 12:00 Noon-5PM (Also open Sat 12:00 noon-5PM Show Weeks only) by calling (843) 577-7183.
