Blithe Spirit

By Noel Coward

Directed by Mikki Maddox

Set in 1941 in Kent, England, southeast of London, the play is about a writer and his second wife who have invited two friends for dinner and a seance, which is to be conducted by a local medium. The host is doing research for a novel about spiritualism and hopes Madame Arcati will be a fraud, providing him with humorous material for his book.

After slamming down a few dry martinis and eating red meat, which she claims to be the wrong thing to do before a seance, Madame Arcati begins her excursion into the other world by contacting her ghostly control, a cantankerous child. When nothing much appears to happen, the dinner guests disperse, leaving the writer smugly satisfied that his suspicions about Madame Arcati were true. Then the ghost of his dead first wife appears and the fun begins.

Coward, who had a great fascination with the occult, conceived of and wrote "Blithe Spirit" in just six days in May 1941 as a contribution to Great Britain's World War II effort. Within the month, the play was in production, and it opened in Manchester on June 16, 1941. By July 2, the play moved to London, where it ran for four and a half years and 1,997 performances, making it the longest running straight play in London theatre history until 1957 when Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" surpassed its record.

Produced by Baraboo Theatre Guild at Farm Kitchen Restaurant, S5718 State Rd 123, Baraboo, WI 53913

Performances: February 6-16, 2003

Thursday-Saturday February 6-8 and 13-15 (dinner at 6:30 show at 7:30)

Sunday February 9 and 16 (dinner at 5 pm show at 6 pm)

*** additional special matinee show Saturday February 15 (dinner at 12 show at 1 pm)

Ticket Prices $22 for dinner theatre

Call 608-356-5246 for reservations or more information.

Ticket outlet:
The Farm Kitchen Restaurant
S5718 State Rd 123
Baraboo, WI 53913
608-356-5246

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Dinner

menu options--
1/2 spring baked chicken or London Broil with mushroom sauce (the dinner
menu for both Friday is the Seafood Buffet).
garlic mashed potatoes
glazed baby carrots
cherry cheesecake
all dinners include salad; rolls; coffee, milk, or tea