To gather background for his new book, novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife, Ruth, invite the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to perform a séance. But Charles’ spiritual skepticism vanishes when the ghost of his deceased first wife, Elvira, accidentally materializes—but only to him. Elvira’s still in love and wants Charles back, and is not about to let a little thing like death stand in her way! From the delightfully wicked mind of Noël Coward comes BLITHE SPIRIT, where love and marriage devolve into laughter and mayhem – and ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ no longer applies.
English playwright Noël Coward, known for his biting wit and distinct sense of style, wrote BLITHE SPIRIT in 1941. At the time, Coward was visiting Wales as his office in London had been destroyed in the Second World War. On this trip, he developed his idea for a playful comedy about ghosts and timeless romantic relationships. The play premiered in the West End that year, where it was met with critical acclaim for its mixture of farce and dark humor. The Walnut’s production features an all-star cast of Philadelphia actors, with a pair of married actors playing an onstage couple in this clever story of romantic and supernatural mishaps.
Walnut Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard will bring Coward’s classic to the stage as director. Havard’s Walnut directorial credits include A Woman of No Importance, The Humans, God of Carnage, ART, Someone to Watch Over Me, Skylight, and Driving Miss Daisy. He has spent his life in theatre as an actor, stage manager, director, managing director and producer. Recognized as one of America's leading theatre producers, he has proudly served America’s Oldest Theatre for over 39 years. Under his leadership, the Walnut became a not-for-profit, self-producing theatre and has gained international recognition as one of America's premier regional theatres.
Actors Ian Merrill Peakes and Karen Peakes, a real-life married couple, will lead as Charles and Ruth Condomine. Ian, assuming the role of the self-absorbed author, is a Walnut veteran with credits including The Adventure of the Speckled Band, A Woman of No Importance, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Matilda. A proud Philadelphia actor, this will be his 134th professional production in his distinguished career which has earned him numerous regional theatre awards. Karen, who plays Charles’ strait-laced second wife, Ruth, has been seen on the Walnut stage in plays such as Speckled Band, A Woman of No Importance, The Curious Incident…, A Comedy of Tenors, and Fallen Angels. Her Philadelphia theatre experience includes work at The Arden, People’s Light, The Wilma and more. When not on the stage, she is also an Audie Award-nominated audiobook narrator of over 80 titles.
Scott Langdon and Susan Riley Stevens return to the Walnut to play Dr. and Mrs. Bradman. Audiences will remember Langdon’s work at the Walnut in productions such as I Love a Piano, The Music Man, Love Story: The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, and many more. His work in regional theatre has seen him in shows like Spamalot, Oliver, and 1776. Stevens was last seen on Walnut’s Independence Studio 3 in Meteor Shower, and her work at the Walnut also includes The Curious Incident…, Noises Off, Fallen Angels, God of Carnage, and A Streetcar Named Desire. She has performed at other theatres across the country, including Actors Theatre of Louisville, Dallas Theatre Center, and Portland Stage Company.
Philadelphia actress Alicia Roper will haunt the stage as she plays Elvira, the deviously lovelorn ghost of Charles’ deceased first wife. In addition to her work at theatres such as Yale Repertory, Cleveland Play House, and Seattle Children’s Theatre, her Walnut credits include A Woman of No Importance, The Curious Incident…, Beautiful Boy, and The Philadelphia Story. Mary Martello returns as the extremely quirky medium, Madame Acarti. Martello has been in over 30 productions at the Walnut, including Young Frankenstein, Annie, The Humans, and 9 to 5. In her award-winning career, she has performed at Philadelphia theatres such as 1812 Productions, The Wilma, and The Arden. Amanda Jill Robinson, a Philadelphia-based actress, and composer, plays the Condomine’s maid, Edith. Robinson’s work at the Walnut includes The Gifts of the Magi and Winter Wonderettes. In addition to work at 1812 Productions, Act II Playhouse, and more, Robinson is a founding member of The Greenfield Collective.
Scenic Designer Roman Tatarowicz (A Woman of No Importance, Meteor Shower, The Curious Incident…) returns to the Walnut to bring audiences into Charles Condomine’s lavish living room. Creating the stylish outfits of 1940’s England is Costume Designer Mary Folino (The Little Mermaid, Beehive, Shrek The Musical). Wig Designers Will Vicari and Krystal Balleza (The Little Mermaid, Shrek) join Folino to complete the looks for the characters. They are joined by Lighting Designer Shon Causer (The Adventure of the Speckled Band, and A Woman of No Importance) and award-winning Sound Designer Christopher Colucci (The Adventure of the Speckled Band, A Woman of No Importance, and A Comedy of Tenors).
Noël Coward’s BLITHE SPIRIT runs at the Walnut May 31 through July 3, 2022. This production is sponsored by Herman Goldner Co., Inc., and the Artist Sponsor is the Noël Coward Foundation. Media Sponsors are 6ABC and Metro Philadelphia. Discounted tickets are sponsored by PNC Arts Alive. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.
JUST THE FACTS
WHAT: BLITHE SPIRIT by Noël Coward
WHEN: May 31 – July 3, 2022
PRESS NIGHT: Wednesday, June 8 at 7pm
WHERE: Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
TICKETS: Prices vary by performance and range from $25 - $77
Premium Tickets available for $175 (includes a tax-deductible donation)
A limited number of $10 ‘Back to the Show’ tickets will be made available for every Mainstage performance thanks to a generous grant from PNC Arts Alive.
CURTAIN:
Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8pm (5/31 – 7/2) *
Special weeknight performance at 7pm (6/8)
Sunday evenings at 7pm (6/5 – 6/19)
Wednesday matinee at 2pm (6/29)
Thursday matinees at 2pm (6/16 – 6/29)
Saturday matinees at 2pm (6/4 – 6/11, 6/25 – 7/2)
Sunday matinees at 2pm (6/5 – 7/3)
*No performances 6/28
PHONE: 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787
WEBSITE: walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster.com
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN STAFF
Director: BERNARD HAVARD
Set Design: ROMAN TATAROWICZ
Costume Design: MARY FOLINO
Wig Design: WILL VICARI & KRYSTAL BALLEZA
Lighting Design: SHON CAUSER
Sound Design: CHRISTOPHER COLUCCI
THE CAST
Edith…………………………………………………..………….AMANDA JILL ROBINSON*
Ruth Condomine……………………………………………………………KAREN PEAKES*
Charles Condomine……………….…….……...………...……IAN MERRILL PEAKES*
Doctor Bradman…………………..…………………………………..SCOTT LANGDON*
Mrs. Bradman………………………….………………………..SUSAN RILEY STEVENS*
Madame Arcati…………………………………….……………………MARY MARTELLO*
Elvira…………………………………………………...…………………...…....ALICIA ROPER*
UNDERSTUDIES
ELIZABETH BALL (Madame Arcati), JOHNNY FERNANDEZ (Charles Condomine), HEATHER PLANK (Mrs. Bradman), MATT RYDZEWSKI (Dr. Bradman), SERAINA SCHOTTLAND (Edith), PARKER SERA (Ruth Condomine), SAMANTHA SIMPSON (Elvira)
*Denotes membership in Actors' Equity Association, the professional union of Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
ABOUT THE WALNUT STREET THEATRE
Walnut Street Theatre is America’s Oldest Theatre and the most popular theatre company in Philadelphia. As a producer of live theatre, many of the artists on the stage, in the orchestra and behind the scenes are from the Philadelphia area. As a non-profit institution, the Walnut is recognized nationally for bringing affordable theatre and diverse stories to more subscribers than any other theatre company in the world. In addition to its five Mainstage productions, popular Walnut Street Theatre for Kids Series and Independence Studio on 3 Series, the Walnut’s education and outreach programs bring live theatre to over 100,000 students, teachers, parents, and kids every year.
825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107–5195 | 215-574-3550 VISIT US AT WalnutStreetTheatre.org
