Professor of Theatre and Director Virginia Smith says audiences should “expect to come and see a supernatural comedy” when University Theatre presents Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit.”
Performances are March 3-5 and 9-12 at 7:30 p.m. and March 13 at 2 p.m. in the Howell Theatre, which is located on the first floor of the Temple Building.
“Blithe Spirit” is a comic play about novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance for research for his next book.
“In the course of the séance, they bring back his ex-wife [Elvira],” Smith said. “His ex wife wants to be alone with him as she loves him and misses him so terribly from the other side. She tries to kill him so they can be together, but she accidentally kills his current wife. They hold another séance to try to get rid of her, and they conjure up the second wife instead. So the three of them are living together in the house and arguing pretty much all the time.”
Coward’s play takes place in 1941.
“It was right when London was being bombed during World War II. What’s the outcome going to be? And Noel Coward writes a play about laughter that is quite silly and takes your mind off more serious consequences of the Nazis,” Smith said.
Hunter Mruz, a sophomore theatre major from Blair, Nebraska, plays Charles.
“Charles is a very successful author in Kent, England,” Mruz said. “He is very loving toward his wife and is very witty in their banter. He always ends up finding overpowering women to date and/or marry. As the saying goes, ‘You’ll end up marrying someone like your mom,’ and that’s very true in this case. He loves excitement in his life, which leads him to be unfaithful, at times, mostly in his first marriage.”
Brenna Hill, a senior theatre major from Castle Rock, Colorado, plays Ruth, Charles’ second wife.
“Ruth is a kind and sensible woman who is very happy living her charmed life with Charles in their expensive country house in Kent,” Hill said. “She is level-headed and gracious until Elvira's return slowly unravels every bit of her nerve and puts her marriage to the ultimate test.”
Amy Almond, a senior theatre major from Cave Creek, Arizona, plays the professional medium, Madame Arcati.
"The wonderful thing about this production is that it is pushing me out of my comfort zone," Almond said. "Every rehearsal, I grow a little more as an actor. Madame Arcati is a role that incorporates a lot of vocal techniques, as well as physical work, so I'm pulling out all my tools for her."
Mruz is looking forward to the special effects that will be required in “Blithe Spirit.”
“I’m really looking forward to all of the special effects that we get to produce,” he said. “Since it’s a play about ghosts, things have to move on their own, and I am very excited to get to see how all of those pieces pull together (figuratively and literally).”
Smith agrees, noting the challenge of having two ghosts on stage.
“Just the creativity and fun of making a crescendo with the things that happen and music and lighting—it’s manipulating all those things to help tell the story,” she said. “That’s the challenge, but it’s also the fun, and that’s why I chose it.”
Almond said, "Our technical director Dani Mader and lighting designer Maxx Finn deserve a big hand for all they've done for the production already."
The other designers on the production include Gabby Doan (scenic), Jeff O'Brien (sound) and Haley Williams (costumes).
Hill said Coward is one of her favorite playwrights.
“Noel Coward is one of my all-time, favorite playwrights, and it has always been a dream of mine to be in one of his plays,” she said. “I am looking forward to the challenge of creating a three-dimensional Ruth and getting inside her witty mind. I have a blast wrapping my mouth around all of Coward's piquant language, and she has some incredibly fun comedic moments.”
Mruz is looking forward to playing his largest role to date at UNL.
“I’m also very excited to play Charles, in general,” he said. “This is my biggest role at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and, while I am ecstatic, it is also a bit daunting. Charles is basically on the entire show and has 2-3 quick changes between scenes. So I’m kind of nervous for that, but I am beyond excited to have been blessed with this opportunity and can’t wait to show audiences this story.”
Audiences should expect an entertaining play with lots of technical tricks and surprises.
“If you like crazy psychics, ghosts, hot women and have a thing for British accents, then this show is for you,” Mruz said.
Tickets for University Theatre productions are $18 adults, $16 faculty/staff/senior citizens and $12 students with ID. Advance tickets are available from the Lied Center Box Office at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 or one hour prior to the performances in the Temple Theatres Lobby.