Blithe Spirit is done and the stage is coming apart. 

We want to take some time to thank everybody to participated in the theatre, helped out during productions, or simply came and enjoyed our shows this year. The 2014-2015 season was wonderful, thank you for sharing it with us!

Our backstage crew is ready for another night....are you???

Blithe Spirit returns for four more shows beginning tonight at 7:30pm. We are also showing tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00pm at the CSS Theatre!

Call 218-723-7000 or go to spotlight.css.edu for tickets ASAP!

Blithe Spirit has been reviewed!!

Read the stellar review and come see the show April 23rd-25th at 7:30pm and April 26th at 2:00pm

Theater review: St. Scholastica's 'Blithe Spirit' hits high marks across the board

By Paul Brissett, For the News Tribune 4/18/15 at 1:18 a.m.

The production of Noel Coward’s comedy “Blithe Spirit,” which opened Friday at the College of St. Scholastica Theatre, is practically perfect in every way.

Direction, acting, set, costumes and lighting are nearly flawless in the telling of how the ghost of an English writer’s first wife is unwittingly summoned into the home he shares with his second spouse, triggering confusion and strife.

It’s a dated piece, treating as it does of the formality of an early 20th-century English village and the fascination with the occult that was common during that time. But Coward’s tight and witty writing can still amuse, and the unnaturalness of the story actually points up some very natural — and common — human foibles.

As writer Charles Condomine, Michael Bruner is effective, if a bit stiff and studied, but he’s committed to his character, whose chief function, in any event, is to serve toy over which late and current spouses battle. And his timing is excellent. He also gets to utter the line that is the best illustration of the time, place and social class of the play: “That remark comes perilously near impertinence.”

As Charles’s current wife, Ruth, Krissy Rootes has the greatest acting challenge, which she meets with grace and naturalness. Ruth must move from bewilderment to outrage, to frightened and frustrated and ultimately combative. Rootes makes the transitions credibly and with perfect timing.

As the ghost of wife No. 1, Elvira, Lindsey Bushnell gets to have all the fun. She takes enormous glee in the mischief she’s causing, slinking and sashaying about the stage, now pouting flirtatiously, now sniping cattishly at Ruth.

As the dotty medium, Madame Arcati, Sarah Grace Devine hits the stage like a hurricane, her speech perfectly paced: fast enough to convey her character’s intensity but slow enough that her every odd utterance is perfectly clear.

In fact, the entire cast deserves kudos for the British accents — arguably accurate, but consistent and consistently intelligible, a rare achievement for a student production. It’s just one of the things for which Director Merry Renn Vaughan deserves credit.

Vaughan is also responsible for the sleek, tight pace of the show, even though it runs almost three hours with one intermission. And she’s communicated a clear concept of the play that guided designers in a cohesive effort that gives the production impact.

Hair and makeup designer Jamie Snyder’s biggest challenge has to have been the ghostly Elvira, but Bushnell’s deathly gray complexion and hair have exactly the right look, especially when teamed with costume designer Sasha Howell’s diaphanous grey dress.

Howell dressed the “living” in contrasting bright colors, from Ruth’s scarlet dress in the opening scene to Madame Arcati’s cape and jangling belt.

Set designer Kevin Seime not only created a charming English country house for the Condomines, but built in a number of impressive special effects to accommodate the story’s supernatural elements.

That “Blithe Spirit” is so frequently staged even almost 75 years is proof that it has a timeless ability to amuse and entertain, even when less than perfectly presented. But this production doesn’t settle for less.

Paul Brissett is a Duluth writer and amateur actor who has appears in numerous community theater productions.

The stage is set and dressed, the props are ready, costumes are completed, and wigs are prepped. 

Come see us tonight for our OPENING SHOW of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at 7:30pm. 

Other times include:

April 18 and 23-25 at 7:30 p.m.
April 19 and 26 at 2:00 p.m.

Call 218-723-7000 or go to spotlight.css.edu for tickets today!

Elvira is unhappy....as usual. Opening week is upon us at it is very exciting! We have a FREE preview tomorrow at 7:30pm!!

Other times include:

April 17-18 and 23-25 at 7:30pm

and

April 19 and 26 at 2:00pm 

Call 218-723-7000 or go to spotlight.css.edu for tickets

If you miss it you must face the wrath of Elvira....

It is now time to release never before seen publicity photos for Blithe Spirit!

These pictures feature Charles Condomine caught between his deceased wife Elvira and his current wife Ruth Condomine! Hilarity ensues as Elvira makes Charles and Ruth's lives a living hell.

We open on APRIL 17th at 7:30pm. Our other show times are :

April 18th and 23rd-25th at 7:30pm 

and

April 19th and 26th at 2:00pm

Call (218) 723-7000 or go to spotlight.css.edu for tickets!