“Blithe Spirit”: A Note from the Director
Like any self-respecting (allegedly) grown up “goth kid,” Halloween is my favorite holiday. No time of year is quite so beloved to me as autumn…the air is crisp, the leaves are colorful, and all manner of spooky and paranormal themed entertainment abounds. When presented with the opportunity to direct a play that is both hilarious and would allow me to bring a bit of the “spooky season” into the springtime, I was thrilled!
While “Blithe Spirit” is indeed a farce with supernatural flavor, there is more depth to the story than one would perhaps think. The theme of 1st Street Players’ season for 2022-2023 is “Breaking Free.” I won’t spoil the ending of the play here…but there is definitely a very clear representation of that theme at the conclusion of “Blithe.”
However, the theme also fits in another way. The female characters in the show have restrictive expectations placed on them, by their jobs, their place in the community, their relationships, and overall, the view of women at the time (1941). Throughout the show, we get to see these women experience tastes of freedom in a variety of ways and exercise their free will in the face of gender, relationship and societal norms that would keep them bound.
As we get to know the characters at the center of the story, Charles Condomine and his wives, Ruth and Elvira, we also learn of the different roles he expects each wife to play so that they can best suit his needs. With the ghostly visitation by his deceased wife, initially, Charles enjoys having a bit of both worlds, but his disposition sours when the two women start to push against the boundaries he has
created for them. It is interesting to see the personality changes and revelations that arise from the freedom “crossing over” brings.
I truly hope that whatever message you take from this show, you take along with it a huge dose of laughter and joy. Working with the incredibly talented, funny, and kind cast and crew of this production has been a dream, and they have certainly uplifted my “spirit” every day of this process.
Have fun, laugh loudly…and watch out for ghosts!
