Blithe Spirit (2023)

Blithe Spirit
[[File: File:Blithe Spirit (2023).jpg |300px]] Blithe Spirit promotional image
Dates	11-13 May 2023
Venue	The Tower Theatre
Director	Ben Forrest
Producer	Merewyn Forrest

The Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society presented Blithe Spirit on 11-13 May 2023 at The Tower Theatre, Folkestone. An amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

Foreword

It's been almost 8 years since I directed Roald Dahl's 'The Witches', and a return to the fray was long overdue! I knew it had to be 'Blithe Spirit'; the many local references, the single set and the impeccable (and hilarious) premise made it utterly irresistible. And who doesn't love a ghost story?

Noël Coward's classic 'improbable farce' has never fallen from popularity since its first performance in 1941 and continues to be performed all over the world. In fact, the original run set the West-End record for longest-running non-musical play and was not surpassed until 1957; by none other than 'The Mousetrap'!

Coward claimed to have written 'Blithe Spirit' in only six days while on holiday, and instantly knew it was witty, well constructed and would be a success. And we couldn't agree more!

Although the plot revolves around the infuriatingly laid-back Charles Condomine - which is a very large role(!) - it is really the three lead female characters that drive the narrative, and what great characters they are! Ruth is proud, practical and highly strung, Elvira is seductive, alluring and impetuous, and Madame Arcati is an absolute force of nature!

The supporting roles are just as well thought out too, with the Bradmans bringing their own domestic dimension, and poor young Edith, the maid, thrown in at the deep end! Blithe Spirit is quite a long play - in three acts - and I decided to present it in two halves; with an interval between Act II Scenes Two and Three. This does make for a longer first half, but I hope you'll be enjoying yourselves far too much to notice!

Ben Forrest - Director

Cast

• Florence Forrest as Edit (a maid)
• Merewyn Forrest as Ruth
• Michael Manton as Charles
• Sheelagh Blackham as Mrs Bradman
• Nick Shread as Dr Bradman
• Alice Hawkins as Madame Arcati
• Clair Ellerby as Elvira

Production Team

• Director: Ben Forrest
• Producer: Merewyn Forrest
• Production Design: Robert Emptage
• Props: Myra Collingridge
• Wardrobe: Denise Lewis & David Lewis
• Stage Manager: Michelle Hartley
• Deputy Stage Manager: Michael Pearce
• Lighting: Dan Smith (Lighting Designer)
• Sound: Jayden Lewis
• Make Up: Sharn Sheridan
• Prompt: Caroline Dowling
• Set Build: David Lewis, Michael Pearce, Steve Leach, Ben Laverty
• Set Painting: Robert Emptage & Myra Collingridge
• Design/Media: Ben Forrest & Malcolm Laye
• Marketing: Reana Herchenhan & Merewyn Forrest
• Photography: David Shackle & Pete Brown

For The Tower Theatre

• General Manager: John Pritchard
• Events/Marketing Manager: Reana Herchenhan
• Technical Manager: Ben Laverty
• Duty Manager: Gary Ingoldby-Spate
• Box Office and Admin: Michelle Hartley

FHODS extends its thanks to the bar and Front of House volunteers. To find out more about volunteering please contact Joanne Pearce FOH@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk.

Synopsis of Scenes

The action takes place in the living room of the Condomines' house in Kent; not all that far from here...

Act I

Scene One - Before dinner on a summer evening Scene Two - After Dinner ==Act II Scene One - The next morning Scene Two - The late afternoon -Interval Scene Three - Early evening a few days later

Act Three

Scene One - After dinner a few days later Scene Two - Several hours later