by Michael Newman

Looking for some laughs and entertainment to help relieve the stress of the holidays? Look no further than Encore Theatre and its upcoming production of the classic Noël Coward comedy Blithe Spirit, playing December 1-16. This ghostly comedy is the perfect show to warm up you and your family this holiday season.

Set in England during the late 1940’s, Noël Coward’s smash comedy hit Blithe Spirit concerns novelist and socialite Charles Condomine (Michael Newman), who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati (Shauna Dolin) to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. His scheme backfires when the séance goes wrong and he is haunted by the ghost of his temperamental first wife, Elvira (Gloriann Arnett). Chaos ensues when Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles’s marriage to his second wife, Ruth (Sarah Butler), who cannot see or hear the ghost. Joe Harding, Katie McAllister, and Ella Noblitt play supporting roles as Dr. Bradman, Mrs. Bradman, and Edith, respectively.

Blithe Spirit is directed by Alyson Cook, which marks her directorial debut on the Encore stage. She is no stranger, however, to Tulare County’s theater scene, having directed and acted in several shows over the years. Most recently she was seen on stage as Ethel Banks in Barefoot in the Park, a comedy that also starred Blithe Spirit’s Michael Newman and Gloriann Arnett.

Though not traditionally a Christmas play, small parts of Blithe Spirit have been seamlessly adjusted to fit a December setting, which includes having a beautifully decorated Christmas tree on stage. Along with the tree, director Alyson Cook has meticulously designed every area of the show to the highest standard. The costumes are exquisite, the set and lighting design is beautiful, and the show’s special effects are top-notch (and worth the price of admission alone). This quick-witted comedy is sure to have you wanting to come back to see it again to catch everything you missed the first time. As usual, Encore’s cabaret service will be running before the show and during intermission, featuring some delicious specialty items made just for this show!

Performances run December 1-16. Tickets can be purchased at encoretulare.org, over the phone at 559-686-1300, and at the theatre itself at 324 South N Street in Tulare. Both of Encore’s previous shows, Matilda and Rock of Ages, completely sold out during their runs, so don’t wait to get your tickets – act now!

Check out more local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. And don’t miss out on Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast where we feature mystery stories read by local actors!