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January 5, 2011 by

Blithe Spirit ‡

Written by By Noël Coward
Directed by Alison C. Vesely

Featuring

Paula Scrofano, Nick Sandys, Melanie Keller, Erin Grennan, Hayley Rice, Rene Ruelas, and Ellen Cribbs

Performed February 2, 2011 ~ March 6, 2011

“Deliciously acted…count on First Folio to warm up a winter evening!” ★★★ – Daily Herald

“As Madame Arcati…Scrofano’s seamless marriage of the earthy and other-worldly provides the blue print for Vesely’s well-paced production.”
“Sandys’ vulpine good looks and impish offhand charm make him a natural for the role.”
“Keller’s flirtatious ‘ectoplasmic manifestation’ adroitly shows off Elvira’s narcissism in both its beguiling and maddening aspects, while Grennan’s Ruth moves quickly from bemused tolerance…to simmering outrage.” ★★★ – Chicago Tribune

“Comedy as bone-dry as the martinis its characters are so very fond of quaffing” – Sun-Times News Group

“a scintillating comedy” – Bloomberg News

JEFF RECOMMENDED

The Story

When Charles Condomine brings his new bride Ruth back to their English country home, his plan is to spend a calm summer working on his new novel. But when the daffy medium Madame Arcati holds a séance, she unwittingly conjures up the spirit of Charles’ first wife Elvira. As Charles and Madame Arcati frantically work to banish the spirit, Ruth becomes increasingly jealous of her ethereal rival and plots the specter’s destruction.

The Photos

Click on the thumbnails below to download the full images from Blithe Spirit.

Nick Sandys (Charles Condomine) & Melanie Keller (Elvira Condomine)
Nick Sandys (Charles Condomine) & Melanie Keller (Elvira Condomine)
Nick Sandys (Charles Condomine) & Melanie Keller (Elvira Condomine)
Nick Sandys (Charles Condomine), Melanie Keller (ElviraCondomine) & Erin Noel Grennan (Ruth Condomine)
Melanie Keller (Elvira Condomine) & Paula Scrofano (Madame Arcati)

Find Other People

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Announcing the Retirement of Founding Executive Director David Rice & Ceasing Operations in 2023

Over two-and-a-half decades we have mounted over 80 productions, produced 14 world premieres, and 6 commissions. We have had more shows directed by women in the past 25 years than almost any other Equity theater in the Chicago area. We also led the way in opportunities for women designers, resulting in multiple Jeff Nominations and Awards for the many women who have worked here. Thank you all for your steadfast support through all these years. We will miss you!

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What the Critics Say…

"A perfect storm of theatre!”

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The 2021-22 Season is sponsored by Susan & Alan Becker and Daniel Nowaczynski & Nancy Ziegler.

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