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Stage

Spirited drama honors the '30s

By Times staff writer
Published March 22, 2007

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, a classic on stage and in movies, is now on stage at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs.

It is part of the museum's "Decades Project," where one decade of the 20th century is spotlighted for a year. In this case, it's the 1930s, when Coward wrote this clever little gem.

The play, put on by Avenue Players Theatre, opens as a rather pompous writer, Charles Condomine (Steven Gerard), and his pretty young wife, Ruth (Elizabeth Holloway), are holding a small dinner party.

For amusement, Charles has invited a well-known medium. He is about to write a book on the occult and wants to figure out her tricks.

The guests are startled when the medium seems to conjure up something, but only Charles can see what she has brought from "the other side": his long-dead first wife, Elvira (Kimen Mitchell), who seems bent on causing trouble between Charles and his bride.

"We have had so much fun doing this play," said Diana Forgione, director and founder of the troupe. "Coward's words are so carefully chosen and so artfully put together. They're amazing."

The $11 ticket includes a brief docent-led tour of the museum 30 minutes before the curtain, refreshments and a talk-back after the show, time permitting.

Shows are at 7 p.m. today, Friday and March 29 and 30 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, March 31 and April 1 at the museum, 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs. (727) 712-5762; www.spjc.edu/central/museum.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 11:41:05]