Blithe Spirit at Garland Civic Theatre

About the show

Skeptical novelist Charles Condomine invites self-proclaimed medium Madame Arcati to his home for a séance, hoping to gather material for a new book. When the psychic accidentally summons the spirit of Condomine's late wife, Elvira, to his home his life is quickly turned into a shambles as his first wife's ghost torments both himself and his new bride, Ruth.

The title of the play is taken from English writer Percy Shelley’s poem To a Skylark ("Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!). Playwright Noël Coward wrote the show after his office was destroyed in The Blitz. With death on his mind, the play was written from start to finish in 7 days. Blithe Spirit was first launched in London in the West End in 1941. It ran for a successful nearly 2,000 performances, breaking a record for a non-musical play in London. Then went on to Broadway, and was quickly adapted for film. Coward also directed a musical adaptation, High Spirits, seen on Broadway and in the West End in 1964. Radio and television presentations of the play have been broadcast in Britain and the U.S. since 1944. A recent movie was released in 2020, changing the plot a bit. Blithe Spirit continues to be revived in the West End, on Broadway and in regional and local theaters internationally.

Directed by Carol M. Rice

Produced by Kerra Sims

Stage Manager, Lydia Sims

Set Designer, Edgar Hernandez

Costume Designer, Kerra Sims

Props Designer, Sara Jones

Sound Designer, Jason Rice

Lighting Designer & Board Ops, Kenneth Hall

Cast includes:

Charles Condomine - Bradford Reilly

Ruth Condomine - Janae Hatchett

Madame Arcati - Sara Jones

Dr. Bradman - Chuck Barlow

Mrs. Bradman - Katie Otten

Elvira - Reagan Wren

Edith - Katie Purdin