Washington Community Theater conjures laughter and mischief with ‘Blithe Spirit’

WASHINGTON — Washington Community Theater’s fall production of Blithe Spirit blends quick wit, precise timing and a touch of the supernatural, just in time for October audiences.

Director Lynn Loula returns to a play she first directed in 1980 at the Weathervane Playhouse in Newark, Ohio, drawn again by “the language, the silliness and the timeless message about love, conflict and the supernatural.”

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Loula said she is pleased to revisit the Noël Coward classic and to bring it to the Washington stage with a cast of familiar and new collaborators.

“It is certainly a classic comedy — you can’t lose with Noël Coward,” Loula said. “But as we moved into dress rehearsals and I saw the ghost in makeup on stage, I realized it’s pretty spooky at times — perfect for October.”

The play, first staged in 1941, follows novelist Charles Condomine, who invites eccentric medium Madame Arcati to his home to conduct a séance for research. The experiment goes awry when the ghost of his late wife, Elvira, returns to disrupt his marriage to his current wife, Ruth.

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Loula said she wanted this production to highlight how Coward’s characters, particularly the women, have evolved for modern audiences. According to her, the portrayals in this staging reflect independence and strength rather than passivity.

“No more wimpy wives longing to be reunited with Charles,” she said. “Ruth and Elvira are strong women. I love the way they eventually unite, presenting a strong force to face Charles.”

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That sense of balance extends to the technical side as well. Loula described the staging of the show’s illusions as intentionally simple, relying on clever timing and practical effects rather than elaborate machinery.

“I imagine most audience members will have some idea about how each was achieved, but they are still surprising,” she said. “A lot happens in a short time, so I think the result is fun.”

The director credited her ensemble for bringing both precision and energy to the show. Many of the actors, she noted, are performing together for the first time but have quickly developed an easy rapport on stage.

“It’s great to have actors who are all the correct age for their characters,” Loula said. “They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience and have come together to create a fascinating group of characters.”

The cast includes Casey Peiffer as Emily, Kelly Juelsgaard as Ruth, Brett Pierson as Charles, Pete Peterson as Dr. Bradman, Rachel Nicola as Mrs. Bradman, Meredith Siemsen as Madame Arcati, and Amber Adkins as Elvira.

This cast’s comedic rhythm hinted at both the absurdity and tension Coward intended. Ruth’s sharp accusations that Charles must be drunk add a layered irony — whether he’s under the influence of too many “spirits” remains open for the audience to decide.

Loula said the heart of Blithe Spirit lies in the way characters face the unexpected.

“Surprise, anger, disbelief, humor and even fear are all expressed by the various people in the play,” she said. “From beginning to end, Charles is sure of himself and what he wants. His marital state does change, but he expects to go on enjoying life on his own terms.”

Performances will take place Oct. 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee Oct. 19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Loula, who has directed 45 shows for WCT, encouraged residents to attend this and future productions.

“Every performance is different,” she said. “Every person involved, onstage, backstage or in the seats, experiences theater like life, in their own unique way.”

For those still wondering — is it cold being a ghost?— Loula and her cast invite audiences to find out for themselves when Blithe Spirit opens this week.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com