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Heidelberg Theatre Company
BLITHE SPIRIT
HEIDELBERG THEATRE COMPANY (HTC)
BOOKINGS 03 9457 4117
ENQUIRIES 03 9455 3039
EMAIL
[email protected]
WEB
www.htc.org.au
HTC is a member of the Victorian Drama League.
HTC acknowledges financial assistance from the City of Banyule.
presents
BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiN THEATRICAL, ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD
11 Jul - 27 Jul 2013
Noël Coward
(1899—1973)
The Bri sh actor, playwright, and
composer is considered by many to
be the foremost writer of English
comedy since Oscar Wilde.
Coward made his stage debut at the
age of 10 in a Christmas play and ten
years later was playing juvenile leads
in West End comedies and wri ng
songs, sketches and plays. In 1923 he sang and danced through the revue
‘London Calling’, having contributed to the book and score, and in 1924 caused a
sensa on as actor and author with
his play ‘The Vortex’.
PerfecƟon in art, as in every thing
Subsequently Coward exhibited wit
else, is a quesƟon of degree. All
and style in a succession of revues,
genuinely creaƟve arƟsts strive to
plays and musicals including ‘Fallen
achieve it within the limits of the
Angels’ and ‘Hay Fever’ (1925),
form they have chosen. I must say,
‘Bi er Sweet’ (1929) ‘Private
with what to the reader will seem
to be a refreshing gust of modesty,
Lives’
(1930)
‘Design
for
that in my opinion I have never
Living’
(1933),
‘Tonight
At
achieved the perfect play that I
8:30’ (1936), ‘Blithe Spirit’ (1941),
have always longed, and will always
‘Present Laughter’, ‘This Happy
long, to write but I shall ever be
Breed’ (1943), ‘Nude With
grateful for the almost psychic giŌ
Violin’ (1956), ‘Wai ng In The
that enabled me to write Blithe Spirit in five days during one of the
Wings’ (1960) and ‘Suite In Three
darkest years of the war. It was not
Keys’ (1966) where he was to make
meƟculously
constructed
in
his final stage appearance. During
advance and only one day elapsed
World War II Coward wrote the
between its original concepƟon and
song ‘London Pride’, and scripted,
the moment I sat down to write it.
directed and starred in the film ‘In
It fell into my mind and on to the
manuscript. Six weeks later it was
Which We Serve’.
produced and ran for four and a
Coward’s post‐war plays never
half years, and I am sƟll wondering
repeated his earlier success, but he
whether or not it was 'Important'.
triumphed as a cabaret star in
Only Time will tell.
London and the U.S. and was
Noël Coward
acclaimed as King Magnus in
1958
Shaw's ‘The Apple Cart’ (1953).
The Play
A er his London office and flat had been destroyed in the Blitz, Coward wrote ‘Blithe
Spirit’ in 1941 during a holiday at Portmeirion ‐ a fantasy village in Wales.
During World War II, Coward felt that Bri sh audiences would relish an escapist
comedy such as this. The play provoked a small outcry at the me of its first
performances, as it was seen to be possibly making fun of death at the height of the
war; however, such objec ons were quickly forgo en, and the play went on to set
Bri sh box‐office records.
The play first appeared at the Manchester Opera House in June 1941, then premiered
in the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre on 21 July
1941 and transferred to the St. James's Theatre and
then the Duchess Theatre. The principal cast
members were Kay Hammond as Elvira, Margaret
Rutherford as Madame Arca , Cecil Parker as
Charles and Fay Compton as Ruth. The play's run of
1,997 consecu ve performances set a record for non
‐musical plays in the West End that was not
surpassed un l 1957, by ‘The Mousetrap’.
One of the most recent professional revivals was on
Broadway in 2009. It starred Angela Lansbury as
Madame Arca , Chris ne Ebersole as Elvira, Rupert
Evere as Charles, Jayne Atkinson as Ruth and Simon Jones as Dr. Bradman.
‘Blithe Spirit’, the film version directed by David Lean, came out in 1945. It featured
Kay Hammond and Margaret Rutherford in the roles they created in the original
produc on, along with Rex Harrison and Constance Cummings in the lead parts of
Charles and Ruth Condomine.
The Director
Wendy has been con nuously involved with HTC for many
years as Commi ee Member and Wardrobe Manager, and
has been integral in numerous produc ons in roles including
Costume Designer, Set Designer, Director and Actor.
From Brian Freil’s memory drama ‘Dancing At Lughnasa’ in
1998 through to Tom Stoppard’s comedy ‘Rough Crossing’ in
2004 Wendy directed a show each year for the Company.
Last year Wendy was en ced from a long meout as
director to present Oscar Wilde’s ’The Importance of Being
Earnest’ in the Company’s 60th Anniversary Year, and
followed this up by appearing as Martha Brewster in
‘Arsenic and Old Lace’.
CAST
CHARLES CONDOMINE ................. Tim Murphy
RUTH CONDOMINE ....................... Jeanne Snider
ELVIRA ........................................... Clare Hayes
DR BRADMAN ................................ Ian McMaster
MRS BRADMAN .............................. Jessica Battersby
MADAME ARCATI .......................... Cate Dowling Trask
EDITH ............................................ Madeleine McKinlay
Setting: The living room of the Condomine household in Kent, 1941.
Act I
Scene I: Before dinner on a summer evening.
Scene II: After dinner.
Act II
Scene I: The next morning.
Scene II: Late the following afternoon.
Scene III: Early evening. A few days later.
Act III
Scene I: After dinner. A few days later.
Scene II: Several hours later.
This play includes smoking .
Refreshments are available in the interval following Act I
There is a brief interval after Act II;
no refreshments will be served.
Production Team
DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION COORDINATION
STAGE MANAGER
LIGHTING DESIGN
SET DESIGN
SOUND DESIGN
PROPERTIES & SET DECOR
COSTUMES
MECHANICS
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
LIGHTING OPERATORS
SOUND OPERATOR
STAGE ASSISTANTS
SET CONSTRUCTION
REHEARSAL PROMPT
PHOTOGRAPHY
PROGRAMME & POSTER
PUBLICITY
BOX OFFICE
FRONT OF HOUSE
Wendy Drowley
Jim Thomson
Melanie Belcher
Deryk Hartwick
Wendy Drowley
George Bissett
Bronwyn Parker
Diane Brennan
Bruce Moorehouse
Sheelagh Belton
Michael Rowe & John Rowe
Bruce Moorehouse
Sally Ockenden & Andrew Adorno
Owen Evans, Paddy Moriarty, Des Harris,
Neville Wilkie, Ian McCabe, Mal Cother,
Doug McNaughton and HTC members
Bobbie Parish
David Belton
Chris McLean
Bruce Akers, Toni Tyers, Chris McLean
Toni Tyers, June Cherrey,
Linda Coutts, Jenni Purdey
Jenny Gilbert and HTC members
TIM MURPHY (Charles Condomine). Tim has previously
appeared at HTC in ‘See How They Run’, ‘Moon over
Buffalo’ and ‘The Patrick Pearse Motel’. Over the years he
has played a variety of musical theatre roles including Cliff
in ‘Cabaret’, Billy Flynn in ‘Chicago’, Robert in ‘Company’
and Al in Stagestruck Productions very successful
Australian premiere of the musical ‘Working’. Noel
Coward’s beloved linguistic gymnastics are a true
challenge for any actor and Tim finds it a joy to be back at
HTC exploring this wonderful play with Wendy, a great
cast and crew and the odd ghost… or two.
JEANNE SNIDER (Ruth Condomine). Jeanne first performed
in High School productions, and returned to the stage in
2003. Her favourite roles include Claudia Draper in ‘Nuts,’
Paulina Salas in ‘Death and the Maiden,’ Jennie Malone in
‘Chapter Two,’ Judith Bliss in ‘Hay Fever,’ and Actor
Number 8 in ‘The Laramie Project.’ This is Jeanne’s first
time performing at Heidelberg Theatre. She is thoroughly
enjoying her experience at HTC with a director, cast and
production team who are all so very talented, supportive
and high-spirited!
CLARE HAYES (Elvira). Clare had her first taste of acting at
age 6 and continued her interest as a member of ‘Victorian
Youth Theatre’ in her teenage years. After high school,
Clare became involved in screen acting, building on her
craft and landing a role in the feature film ‘Taj’, directed
by Winston Furlong. Clare has a strong passion for amateur
theatre and has previously been in plays at Strathmore
Theatrical Arts Group, including ‘The Mousetrap’ and 'Hay
Fever'. This will be Clare's first appearance at Heidelberg.
CATE DOWLING TRASK (Madame Arcati). Cate last appeared
at Heidelberg in ‘Under Milk Wood’ (2011). Her recent
theatre credits include two seasons of ‘Calendar Girls’
playing Marie, first with Brighton Theatre Company and then
Lilydale’s Athenaeum Theatre Company, ‘Man
Alive’ (Malvern Theatre), ‘The Cemetery Club’ (Encore
Theatre), ‘Later Life’ (also at Malvern) and ‘Habeas
Corpus’ (Williamstown Little Theatre). Playing ‘complicated’
women, particularly in comedy, has become something of a
speciality for Cate, and she is delighted to be adding the
redoubtable ‘Madame Arcati’ to that list.
IAN McMASTER (Dr Bradman). Ian is happy to be back on
the Heidelberg Theatre Company stage after a lengthy
absence. Ian last appeared in ‘Cherry Orchard’ at HTC.
Previously he appeared here as Lionel Toop in ‘See How
they Run’ and Jerry Evans in ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’. Ian
has also worked at Malvern Theatre Company, Encore
Theatre and Williamstown Little Theatre. Earlier this
year he was in ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ at Malvern.
JESSICA BATTERSBY (Mrs Bradman). It’s been over a
decade since Jess has been on an Australian stage, but
making her return with ‘Blithe Spirit’ has proved to be an
excellent plan. Jess has just returned from London where
she played the Provost in ‘Measure for Measure’ at the
Bridewell Institute, and Sailor/Politician/Falkland
Islander in Steven Berkhoff’s rhyming satire about the
Falkland wars, ‘Sink the Belgrano’….as you do. She’s
absolutely thrilled to be part of Heidelberg’s cast, and is
finding it all ‘extraordinary’.
MADELEINE McKINLAY (Edith). Madeleine has been an avid
stage performer since studying with the Australian
Conservatoire of Ballet and the Australian Ballet School for
over a decade. Following this she appeared in 'Fiddler On
The Roof' and 'My Fair Lady' with M2 Theatre Company and
'The Penelopiad' and 'No Exit' with Tau Sigma Theatre
Company. She has also studied screen acting at the
Victorian College of the Arts. This is Madeleine's first
production with Heidelberg Theatre Company.
To assist those with hearing difficulties, a hearing loop is
installed in the theatre—seats 1 to 10 in rows A to F. HTC
gratefully acknowledges a City of Banyule grant for this service.
HTC Artspace
ARTWORK by artists at Araluen
The artwork on display had been produced by artists working in the studios of
our neighbours at Araluen.
Araluen is a not-for-profit organisation providing support services for adults
with intellectual disabilities. Programs focus on building life skills and
enhancing choice, opportunity and social inclusion.
The Studio Art Program nurtures the talents of 65 local artists and
supports their aspirations to exhibit their work in the mainstream art world by
coordinating a comprehensive promotional schedule. Artists earn recognition
and income on the basis of ability and make a positive contribution to their
communities. Araluen’s artists are gaining a reputation for producing diverse
and original contemporary artwork that is spontaneous, expressive and
vibrant.
Artists’ works can be seen online at http://www.araluen.org/art-at-araluen/
art-gallery. For further information the Araluen enquires number is 9439
2805.
Up on the Mezzanine you can view a selection of wedding gowns from
Heidelberg Theatre Company’s costume collection.
Our Next Production
BLITHE SPIRIT
Heidelberg Theatre Company Season 2013Play 3