Purchase Tickets Online
AUDITION NOTICE
BLITHE SPIRIT
Performance Dates are November 5, 6, 7* & 12, 13, 14*, 2021. All Shows will be performed to a live and full-capacity audience. *Sunday Matinees
OPEN AUDITION NOTICE:
Blithe Spirit
Written by Noel Coward
Directed by Nancy Crouse
Audition Dates: Tuesday, August 10 and Wednesday, August 11 at 6:30 pm. Please arrive at 6:30 pm, or as close to that time as possible, on either evening. Actors should attend only one audition night on either Tuesday or Wednesday. (No appointment needed; no monologue required. Sides available for download below.)
CALLBACKS: By invitation only, will be held on Thursday, August 12 at 6:30 pm, or other assigned time.
Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6:30-9:50 pm and Sundays: 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Read-through and rehearsals begin Sunday, August 15. Set Build and Tech Week per normal standards.
Performance Dates are November 5, 6, 7 & 12, 13, 14, 2021. November 5, 6, 12 and 13 are evening performances, and November 7 and 14 are Sunday Matinee performances.
Please arrive at auditions with your Audition Form already filled out including all rehearsal conflicts listed. Download AUDITION FORM.
This is an open call. No appointment needed; no monologue required. Readings from the script using the Audition Sides listed below are available on this page for download. We recommend that you download and review the appropriate Sides prior to auditions(below). If you wish to read a perusal copy of the script, please download below.
Synopsis:
Charles Condomine, a successful British novelist, invites an eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at his home, hoping to research the fakery of mediums for his upcoming novel on spiritualism. He invites the Bradmans to participate along with his wife Ruth, hoping they can all keep a straight face. At the séance, Arcati inadvertently summons Charles’ first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years. Madame Arcati leaves after the séance, unaware that Elvira has materialzed. Only Charles can see or hear Elvira, so his second wife Ruth does not believe that Elvira exists until a floating vase is handed to her out of thin air. Thoroughly enjoying her reunion with Charles, Elvira increases her efforts to disrupt Charles’ current marriage, finally sabotaging his car in the hope of killing him so that they can be reunited in the spirit world, but Ruth, not Charles, drives off to her death.
Ruth’s ghost immediately returns, seeking revenge on Elvira, and though Charles cannot at first see Ruth, he sees that Elvira is being chased and tormented. With his house in an uproar, he calls Madame Arcati back to exorcise both spirits, but instead of banishing them she unintentionally materializes Ruth. With both his dead wives now fully visible to him and enraged with each other and him, Charles asks Madame Arcati to help him. They go through séance after séance and spell after spell trying to exorcise his wives. When Madame Arcati finally discovers that it was the psychic housemaid Edith who unwittingly summoned Elvira, Arcati succeeds in dematerialising both ghosts. Charles thinks he is finally alone, but Madame Arcati, hinting that the ghosts may still be around unseen, warns him that he should go far away as soon as possible. Then Coward ends the play with the set in disarray and the audience laughing.
Cast: This is Noel Coward’s most famous stylized comedy and it requires actors who can exude that style. Educated British accents help create that style for the Condomines and the Bradmans; Edith should use an intelligible Cockney accent and Arcati could have another accent entirely reflecting another ethnicity.
Charles Condomine, (aged 30 to 50) a successful, debonair British novelist – must have educated British accent and excellent stylized comedic timing and the ability to deliver witty lines with clarity and flair. His polished skepticism gives way to panicked belief.
Ruth Condomine, (a bit younger than Charles) his second wife of five years; she’s exceptionally stylish, sophisticated and smart in her appearance, speech and demeanor, but sardonic, stuffy and condescending, especially when crossed or angry.
Elvira Condomine, (younger than Ruth) Charles’ first wife – an attractive and mischievous ghostly presence who was in life and remains in death more vivacious and “spirited” than Ruth. Her envy of Ruth and love for Charles drive her spritely extremes.
Madame Arcati, (mature but ageless, open ethnicity) an eccentric medium – created originally by Margaret Rutherford and played by many outstanding actresses through the years; she must be capable of effusive speech and expansive physical comedy and believably relish being a bike-riding authoress of children’s books and sentimental biographies of minor royalty.
Doctor George Bradman, (age open but peer of Charles) – Charles’ somewhat pompous physician friend, who is quite skeptical of the occult, but goes along to assist his friend Charles.
Mrs. Violet Bradman, doctor’s wife – “fair and rather faded” in comparison to Ruth. Simple and naïve, she is quite excited about being in the presence of the medium, whom she finds fascinating.
Edith (age open) nervous to the point of being spastic; exudes a high speed tempo but could also convey military precision in her attempt to impress her new employers; she should also be a good physical commedianne who sings “Always”-not necessarily well.
Audition Sides:
Side A: Ruth, Edith, Charles: pp. 1-2
Side B: Ruth, Charles, Edith, Dr. & Mrs. Bradman: pp. 7- 8
Side C: Arcati, Charles, Ruth, Dr. & Mrs. Bradman: pp. 10-11
Side D: Charles, Ruth, Elvira: pp.27-29
Side E: Charles & Elvira: pp. 30-31
Side F: Charles & Ruth: pp. 34-35
Side G: Charles, Ruth & Elvira, pp. 40-41
Side H: Madame Arcati, Ruth, Charles, Elvia, pp. 48-49
Please arrive at auditions with your Audition Form already filled out including all rehearsal conflicts listed. Download AUDITION FORM.
Auditions are held at:
St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre
One St. Peters Centre Blvd.
St. Peters, MO 63376
Our beautiful Performing Arts Theatre is in the City Hall building in the western-most building (far right) at the opposite end from the Rec-Plex. It is adjacent to City Hall and easily accessed through the Cultural Arts Centre entrance.
ABOUT US: Act Two Theatre’s shows play to large audiences with a loyal-season ticket subscriber base of theatre lovers. All performances take place in the beautiful 318-seat Performing Arts Theatre at the St. Peters City Hall Cultural Arts Centre, adjacent to the Rec-Plex. The theatre has comfortable seating and a terrific stage!
Theatre Location for Auditions
St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre
One St. Peters Centre Blvd.
St. Peters, MO 63376
Performing Arts Theatre is in the City Hall building, Western(far right) most building at the opposite end from the Rec-Plex. Act Two Theatre performs in St. Peters to one of the largest average audiences of local St. Louis area theatre companies. Each show runs 6-8 performances with attendance numbers ranging between 1000-1800 per run. Act Two’s loyal, large and enthusiastic season ticket subscriber base allows many to receive the gift, joy and magic of live theatre that our talented actors, directors, tech crew and volunteers create.
About Act Two Theatre:
2021 marks Act Two Theatre’s 28th season. We are proud to present another year of high-quality theatre in St. Peters, Missouri. We are located in the beautiful 318-seat Performing Arts Theater at the St. Peters City Hall Cultural Arts Centre, adjacent to the Rec-Plex. The theater has comfortable seating and a terrific stage!
Act Two Theatre performs to one of the largest average audiences as compared to other local St. Louis area theatre companies. Except for the Muny and Stages no other professional, regional or community theatre company boasts a larger following. Act Two’s loyal, large and enthusiastic season ticket subscriber base allows many to share in the joy and magic of live theatre that our talented actors, directors, tech crew and volunteers create.
