Carson School opens spring semester with 'Blithe Spirit'

(left to right) Amy Almond, Hunter Mruz and Abbie Austin rehearse a scene from Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" on Feb. 11. Photo by Michael Reinmiller.
(left to right) Amy Almond, Hunter Mruz and Abbie Austin rehearse a scene from Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" on Feb. 11. Photo by Michael Reinmiller.

Carson School opens spring semester with 'Blithe Spirit'

calendar icon19 Feb 2016    

Lincoln, Neb.--The Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln opens its spring semester season with the ‘spirited’ Noel Coward comedy BLITHE SPIRIT, directed by Professor Virginia Smith, Head of the Directing Program.
 
Performances are Thursday through Saturday, March 3, 4, 5 and Wednesday through Saturday March 9, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. in Howell Theatre first floor of the Temple Building, 12th & R Streets, Lincoln.
 
Tickets are $18, $16 faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $12 students with ID. Tickets are available at the Lied Center Ticket Office, 301 North 12th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to curtain in the Temple Lobby. Tickets may be ordered via telephone at 402-472-4747 or 800-432-3231. Tickets are available on line at unltheatretickets.com. Visit the School’s website at carsonschool.unl.edu for additional information.
 
Noel Coward’s sharp wit and exquisite style shines in this spirited comedy about ghosts. It centers on cantankerous writer Charles Condomine (undergraduate Hunter Mruz) who invites outlandish medium Madame Arcati (undergraduate Amy Almond) to his home to conduct a séance as part of research for his new book. In the process Condomine’s clever ex-wife Elvira (undergraduate Abbie Austin) is brought back to life. Elvira is passionate about wanting to stay with Charles and does everything she can to get rid of Charles’ current wife Ruth (undergraduate Brenna Hill). Another séance is held to attempt to get rid of Elvira, but that conjures up even more hilarious consequences.
 
A play about the supernatural incorporates a wide variety of special effects from the sound and lighting designers (staff member Jeffrey O’Brien and graduate student Maxx Finn, respectively) working with the scenic designer (undergraduate Gabriella Doan), the properties master (graduate student Lisa Haldeman) and the technical director (undergraduate Dani Mader). Audiences can expect lots of slight of hand and levitating tricks that make objects move seemingly on their own. Graduate student Haley Williams designs the costumes. The stage manager is undergraduate Matthew Knight.
 
Additional cast members are undergraduates Emma Fisher, Steven Lang and Ciara Hergott.
 
British playwright Noel Coward is known for his highly polished writing style utilizing diamond-sharp wit to fuel the comic moments of his plays. Written in 1941, BLITHE SPIRIT struck a chord during the world-weary times emerging from World War I and the start of World War II. It is combination drawing-room comedy and ghost story intended to divert its audience through a bit of silliness wrapped in an otherworldly plot.