Event Article

Fullerton College theatre department presents Noel Coward's play, "Blithe Spirit," as its final major production of the school year on Thursday, May 26 for a nine-show run in FC Studio Theatre.

Directed by Todd V. Glenn, the only non-student involved in a supervisory position, "Blithe Spirit" will play Thursday through Friday, May 26-28, at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, May 31-June 4 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Theatre students performing in "Blithe Spirit" are Christopher Allison (Charles), Kathy Van Schaik (Ruth), Sharon Mann (Elvira), Jean Brosang (Madame Arcati), Ron Dickinson (Dr. Bradman), Cherie Hill (Violet Bradman) and Mary Spix as Edith.

Students heading the technical aspects of the FC production are Rick Rafamovic, assistant director; Mark Garcia, stage manager; Jim Amesquita, costume designer; Daniel Torres, set designer; Matthew Martin, properties masterand scene painter; Daive Paris and Todd Westberg, sound designers; and Bert Forbes, lighting designer.

"Blithe Spirit" is an English classical comedy revolving around the trials and tribulations of Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth who become tormented by the spirit of his first wife after she is summoned from the heavens by a medium at a seance.

Glenn feels good about the talented group of actors who have spent the past six weeks mastering the English dialect and in addition, learning how to feel comfortable acting as members of English high society.

"It's a wonderful group to work with and the actors are very supportive of each other," Glenn said.

"Kathy is a second semester student who has had several opportunities to perform with us. She performed in "Much Ado About Nothing" (Consuelo) and "Bus Stop." Her experience has been growing by leaps and bounds. She is fun to watch on stage and she has a true flair for style.

Allison is a second semester student of the theatre who played Verges in "Much Ado About Nothing" and performed in "The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail," and Dickinson is a two-year veteran of the theatre department who recently played. the role of Dogberry in "Much Ado About Nothing."

"Blithe Spirit" was written in 1942 when Noel Coward returned to England' after the Blitzkrig,"Glenn said. "He wanted to bolster the nation's ability to laugh at a, national crisis and be able to upliftthe spirits of the citizens of England..

The play is a comedy of conversational wit and it forces people in the audience to listen to conversation. For the actors, it is a stylepiece that takes the students into a lifestyle other than the one they have grown up in and it allows them to become aware of personal differences among societies.

"I think FC's performance of "Blithe Spirit" will be a fun experience for anyone who joins us," Glenn said.

Admission is $3 for the general public and $2 for students, seniors and patrons of FC's theatre department. FC students wtih valid student body cards will be admitted.

Tickets are on sale Monday through Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., outside the Campus Theatre, and will also be sold one hour prior to each performance.