The Jungle Theater opens its milestone anniversary season with the timeless wit of Noël Coward, whose work will grace the Jungle stage for the first time in the company's 20 years. BLITHE SPIRIT, directed by Associate Artistic Director Joel Sass, opens February 12 and runs through March 28.
Written in 1941 for British theater-goers who had endured the Blitz during World War II, the comedy begins when novelist Charles Condomine (Michael Booth) and his wife Ruth (Amy McDonald) invite a local psychic to conduct a séance at their dinner party, fully believing her to be a harmless fraud. Instead, Madame Arcati (Wendy Lehr) successfully conjures the ghost of Charles' annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira (Kate Eifrig), who decides not to honor the vow "'til death do us part." Elvira then settles in to haunt the house--and her spouse--in this sophisticated comedy evoking the glamour of the 1940s.
"In selecting the plays for the Jungle's 20th Anniversary season, [Artistic Director] Bain Boehlke and I wanted to celebrate the work by some of the best mid-20th century playwrights, and Noël Coward's wonderfully written comedy fits in perfectly," said Sass. "Audiences are in for a real treat with a brilliant cast headed by local icon Wendy Lehr as Madame Arcati--one of the truly enduring, all-time great comic roles."
Blithe Spirit will also introduce three new actors to the Jungle stage: Kirby Bennett and Sam Landman will portray the Condomines' neighbors, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, and Georgina Stoyles, who will play the neurotic maid Edith.
Noël Coward (1899-1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise." He translated that glamour into his stage characters as well--but Sass is adamant that the "upper crust" that populates BLITHE SPIRIT will exhibit some deliciously bad behavior.
Sass continued, "Noël's characters are like expensive bottles of champagne that have been given a good shaking. On the exterior, all elegance and sophistication, but full of seething emotions, ready to pop their corks once they get their feathers ruffled."
The Jungle's creative team includes Barry Browning (lighting), Kalere Peyton (costumes), Joel Sass (set), Andrew Mayer (sound) and John Novak (properties).
In BLITHE SPIRIT, Charles Condomine (Michael Booth) and his wife Ruth (Amy McDonald) invite psychic Madame Arcati (Wendy Lehr) to their dinner party where she successfully conjures the ghost of Charles' first wife, Elvira (Kate Eifrig), who decides not to honor the vow "'til death do us part." On stage at the Jungle Theater, February 12-March 28. Box office: 612.822.7063 or www.jungletheater.com.
