CLAIREMONT ACT ONE
San Diego, California
3670 Clairemont Dr. #9
San Diego, CA 92117
858-274-0005
www.clairemontactone.org
SYNOPSIS: Blithe Spirit
Charles Condomine, a novelist, and his wife, Ruth, have invited their friends Dr. and
Mrs. Bradman to join them for dinner with a local clairvoyant, Madame Arcati. Charles is
planning a novel about a spiritualist and wants to observe the behavior of Madame
Arcati during a séance after dinner. The Bradmans arrive, and the four friends discuss
Madame Arcati, sure that she will be a harmless fraud. They are interrupted when
Madame Arcati arrives, dinner is served, and the séance begins. Much to the surprise of
the two couples, there are supernatural manifestations--the table trembles, Madame
Arcati falls into a trance, and Charles hears the voice of Elvira, his first wife, whom he
loved dearly but who died several years ago. Frightened, he wakes Madame Arcati, and
the party breaks up.
As Charles shows the Bradmans out, in walks the ghost of Elvira, white from head to
foot. Only Charles can see and hear her, and he and Ruth immediately quarrel about her
presence. The cross-conversation between Charles and Ruth and Charles and Elvira is
exasperating to Ruth, who, believing Charles drunk, goes off to bed in a huff.
The next morning at breakfast, Ruth is very cool to Charles and insists that he had too
much to drink the night before. When he insists that he had a hallucination, Ruth
attributes it to indigestion. The bickering continues until Elvira enters, carrying black
roses. When Charles sees her, a comical miscommunication begins, with Ruth unable to
see or hear Elvira and feeling certain that Charles’s unpleasant remarks are meant for
her. Ruth becomes convinced her husband is mad and tries to soothe him and go for a
doctor. Charles, frantic to be believed, enlists Elvira’s help, and she moves a bowl of
flowers around the room to prove her existence. Ruth becomes hysterical, not sure
whether she is being deluded, is going insane, or is actually in the presence of a ghost.
Later, alone, Ruth visits with Madame Arcati again--and is shocked and angered that
Madame Arcati is unable to dematerialize Elvira and also believes that Charles
subconsciously wanted Elvira back. When Ruth is rude to her, the spiritualist leaves in a
huff. Elvira and Charles enter, and Elvira seems delighted that she will be a permanent
guest. Ruth swears to rid herself of the ghost.
Suspense builds when, several days later, both Edith (the maid) and Charles have
accidents--Edith because of axle grease rubbed on the stairs and Charles on a ladder
that proves to have been sawed nearly in two. Ruth insists, and Charles is convinced,
that Elvira is trying to kill Charles in order to have him for herself again. Ruth leaves in
the car, which Elvira had booby-trapped for Charles, and is killed in the ensuing
“accident.” The act ends with Elvira frantically retreating from Ruth’s ghost, invisible to
Charles.
Charles calls Madame Arcati, who goes into a trance to try and dematerialize Elvira. It
works in reverse, though, and in walks the ghost of Ruth, now plainly visible, along with
Elvira, to Charles. After trying all sorts of supernatural tricks, Madame Arcati is about to
despair; the ghosts simply will not go away. Then she realizes that it was not Charles
who called up Elvira and Ruth--it was Edith. The maid, when discovered, is contrite, and
Madame Arcati hypnotizes her; and the ghosts vanish at last. Suggesting that Charles
travel for awhile, Madame Arcati exits.
Charles, now alone, but not really alone, teases Ruth and Elvira about how much he will
enjoy his freedom. Vases crash into the fireplace, pictures come crashing down
--and the curtain falls.
DIRECTOR: Blithe Spirit
Jean von Metzke
Jean von Metzke has been an active
member of Clairemont Act I since shortly
after its inception. She currently share’s the
office of president with Catherine de los
Rios. She has performed in 8 productions,
most notably as Clairee in “Steel Magnolias,”
Millie in Neil Simon’s “California Suites,”
and her debut as a man in Neil Simon’s
“The Odd Couple” female version. She also
had the privilege of performing in her
husband, Conrad von Metzke’s original one act play, “Bosom Biddies.”
This is Jean’s debut directing a full length play, and Noël Coward is a
challenge. She’s grateful to her talented, hard working cast and her stage
managers, Celeste Bostian and Karen Luna. It’s been a pleasure!
CREW: Blithe Spirit
Rob Elliott.......................... Technical director/Lights/Set Builder
Celeste Bostian................. Stage Manager
Karen Luna........................ Assistant Stage Manager
Catherine de los Rios........ Set designing/Costumes
Phoenix Webb................... Hair/Makeup
John Aviles........................ Hair/Makeup
Jason Miller....................... Sound design
Katie Turner....................... Publicity
Charlene Siverston............ Publicity
Maria Iraci.......................... Props
Linda Ullrich....................... Props
Katie Turner....................... Technical Crew
Arthur de los Rios.............. Curtains/Stage Hand
Patrick Castaneda............. Stage Hand
Conrad von Metzke............Stage Hand
Karen Kowalski.................. House Manager
Sally Vangorkrom.............. Tickets/Concessions
Paula Brandes................... Tickets/Concessions
Judy Elliott......................... Tickets/Concessions
Lauren Mooney Bear..........Tickets/Concessions
Aaron Goodman.................Tickets/Concessions
Helder Balelo......................Tickets/Concessions
Danielle Billings..................Tickets/Concessions
Helder Balelo......................Programs
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Clairemont Act One
Clairemont Act One would like to thank our friends, family and
neighbors for the incredible support these last five years.
Thank you very much for attending our performances and
donating to our productions.
A special thanks to our many volunteers.
Here’s to another five years!
BIOGRAPHY: Noël Coward
Noël Coward was one of the most prominent
actors and playwrights of the 1930s, who
amused the audience with his wit and satire,
for nearly four decades. A born star, he was
capable of writing successful and hit plays in
just a few days, owing to his immense
prodigious talent. His command over
playwriting could supersede even the most
qualified playwrights of his time. Known as
‘The Master’ among his friends and
colleagues, he had truly mastered the art of
writing plays and songs. He was very popular
both in Britain and the U.S. and was
particularly liked for his sense of dressing. In
fact, he is credited for introducing the turtle
necks into fashion in the 1920s! Despite his
sophistication, he was down-to-earth and was famous for his generosity. Essentially,
one of the early ‘pop stars’ from Britain, he was distinguished for his ‘cool’ demeanor,
which reflected in his plays, most which were comedies. He rose to prominence in the
inter-war years, entertaining the world, in the worst of times. However, his career was a
bit overshadowed with the emergence of the ‘angry young man’ generation, fuelled by
the plays of young and aggressive playwrights, like John Osborne. But, it was just a
matter of time before he sprung back to the limelight with a new set of plays written
from a different perspective.
Clairemont Act One Presents:
Noël Coward’s
Blithe Spirit
Directed by: Jean von Metzke
The play takes place in the living room of Charles & Ruth
Condomine’s house in Kent England. Time: Late 40s-Early 50s.
There will be one 15 minute intermission between acts.
ACT I
Scene 1 Before dinner
Scene 2 After dinner
Scene 3 The next morning
ACT II
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
The following afternoon
A few days later
Evening, a few days later
Several hours later
CAST: Blithe Spirit
CAST: Blithe Spirit
Michael Kowalski as Charles Condomine
Michael Kowalski has directed CAO one acts and
performed in our production of California Suite.
He is currently our artistic director.
John Bode as Doctor Bradman
Many thanks to Clairemont Act One for allowing a
return to the stage after a 40-year hiatus when John
played the role of Herb the Verb in the dramatic
5th-grade thriller, The Case of the Missing Parts of
Speech. John couldn't do this without the unwavering support of his partner, David. Many thanks
to my family and friends who have encouraged me
to pursue a previously unfulfilled dream.
Charlene Sivertson as Ruth Condomine
Linda Ullrich as Mrs. Bradman
Char Sivertson recently retired from Northrop
Grumman and is a long-time Clairemont resident.
She is thrilled to be involved with community
theater again and is honored to work with CAO's
wonderful cast and crew. A special thanks to
husband, Larry, for all his support and
encouragement!
Linda's previous roles with Clairemont Act One
include: The Book Club of Little Witterington
(Paula), Odd Couple-Female Cast (Vera) and
Crimes of the Heart (Chick). Linda received
acting training at UCSD Extended Studies
(Emmelyn Thayer, Professor). Linda thanks her
husband and children for their support and
tolerance!
Kim Sullivan as Elvira
Maria Iraci as Edith
Kim is thrilled to be working with Clairemont Act
One again. She enjoyed playing Renee in the Odd
Couple last year with CAO. Other Recent roles in
San Diego include A Few Good Men (Lawyer),
Guys and Dolls (General Cartwright), and Scrooge
the Musical (Mrs. Cratchit). Kim thanks her loving
husband and son for their patience and
understanding throughout her acting avocation.
Catherine de los Rios as Madame Arcati
Catherine is pleased to be part of CAO’s
production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, and happy
to have the opportunity to bring life to the eccentric
and delightful character of Madame Arcarti. She has
been a member of CAO since its inception, and has
participated in every production either as an actor
and/or director, as well as technical support.
Catherine has served on the Board of Directors for
CAO as secretary and now as co-president. She would like to thank her
husband, Arthur, for supporting her in her theatrical endeavors from day one.
Maria is a native of San Diego and a resident of the
Clairemont area for 42 years. She joined CAO 4
years ago at the urging of her sister Catherine
de los Rios and friend Jean von Metzke. Maria has
applied her gifts as props mistress and stage
manager for several CAO productions. Maria enjoys
comedic roles and it wasn't until last fall that she
tried her hand at acting in a one act play, very small
part, and this production, another small part as Edith the maid. Maria is a
retired Kindergarten teacher where she applied her acting skills for many
years.:)))) Thank you to my DH for enduring sandwiches for dinner or maybe
shift for yourself for dinner, and he likes to cook now! Hmmm.