The Pitt-Greensburg Theater Company will present Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit as their fall production. This British farce centers around socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his willful and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira continually attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost. Laughter is expected to abound during this presentation. (Wikipedia)
The show will run Nov. 14, 15, and 16 (7:30 p.m.) and Nov. 17 (2:30 p.m.) in the Ferguson Theater (Smith Hall) at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. General admission is $5.
“This is a fun, British farce that everyone can enjoy,” said Christina Allaback, director of theater. “A farce is a comedy that contains highly exaggerated and ridiculous situations. As far as farce is concerned, Coward was the best and Blithe Spirit is one of his most produced plays. He wrote this play in six days at a country house he stayed in to escape the London Blitz. He wanted to write a comedy to help the English forget about the war for a little while. This play also has supernatural elements, so expect some fun special effects from our Stagecraft class."
Allaback is excited to have the audience experience the great chemistry the three lead actors have in this play, saying, “It’s obvious that they really enjoy working with each other.”
Cyrus Bartholomew (Greensburg, PA) portrays socialite and novelist Charles Condomine. He is responsible for inviting Madam Arcati to his home for a séance. Brielle Zimmerman (Latrobe, PA) portrays Ruth, Condomine’s second wife who cannot see or hear the ghost trying to disrupt her marriage. Marris Sabotka (Long Island, NY) takes on the role of Elvira, the ghost of Condomine’s first wife. Allaback also shared that in addition to creating the characters for their performances, the three are learning the standard British dialect needed for the roles.
Allaback also compliments the Pitt-Greensburg stagecraft class for their work in building the set and developing ideas to make the special effects work. “This play relies on special effects to work, so their efforts are especially important in this production,” she explained. “Plus, it’s one more way that Pitt-Greensburg students can experience hands-on learning as part of their educational journeys.”
Short bios of the performers:
Cyrus Bartholomew, from Greensburg, PA, premiered in Ferguson Theater in the fall 2023 Halloween double-feature production of The War of the Worlds (Orson Wells) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (Edmund H. North). Bartholomew also served as the prop master for the spring 2024 production of Fun Home. This fall, he adds to his Pitt-Greensburg theater credits by taking on one of the lead roles in Blithe Spirit as socialite and novelist Charles Condomine. His past theater experience includes serving as stage manager and running the sound with Monessen GPA for five years, putting on shows that included Grease, Shrek The Musical, Ranked, Little Shop of Horrors, and Matilda. He is a sophomore visual and performing arts major.
Jimmy Brandel is a sophomore majoring in visual and performing arts. He portrays Dr. Bradman in the fall 2024 production.
Sara Cohill is a first-year information technology major (cybersecurity focus) from Plum, PA. In Blithe Spirit, she will play the part of Edith, the maid, building on her experience with community theater.
Vae Gilbert (they/them) is a first-year student studying pre-emergency medicine. They is from Tabernacle, NJ, but has spent most of their life in Hawaii. In this production, Gilbert will perform as Madam Arcati.
Marris Sabotka (they/them) are a third-year political science and applied mathematics major from Long Island, NY. They will explore the part of Elvira in Blithe Spirit. Their most recent show credits include Small Allison in Fun Home (spring 2024), Carl Phillips/Narrator in the fall 2023 Halloween double feature, and Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire.
Shianne Steck (They/She) is a senior visual and performing arts major, with minors in gender studies and writing. This is her sixth show at Pitt-Greensburg. Steck, from Pittsburgh, PA has been involved with various productions there and will serve as apprentice stage manager for Front Porch Theatricals. She will serve as the senior stage manager for this show.
Constance Taesch is a second-year visual and performing arts major. A native of Sleepy Hollow, NY, she has participated in school plays and musicals since the eighth grade. She has taken on the role of Mrs. Brandman in Blithe Spirit.
Brielle Zimmerman, from Latrobe, PA, will play Ruth in Blithe Spirit. This is her third show on the Ferguson Theater stage. She is a junior majoring in psychology.