Write a commentThe Oswego Players’ fall production of “Blithe Spirit” features novelist Charles Condomine, the ghost of his first wife Elvira, and his current living wife Ruth.
The plot brings an eccentric medium into his home, conjuring up the ghost of Elvira and leading to a series of hilariously otherworldly complications. Playwright Noel Coward created an enduring favorite with this tale, deftly mixing humorous chaos with sharp wit and spectral hijinks.
Nolan Callahan, who has performed with the Oswego Children’s Theater, the Oswego High School Drama Club, and now The Oswego Players, portrays Charles Condomine. Describing his character’s journey through the paranormal, Callahan said, “Charles starts out as a total non-believer. He thought that supernatural events were fake, and psychics were frauds. In his case, experiencing being haunted by a ghost turned his whole belief system upside down.”
When asked how he likes being in “Blithe Spirit” and working with the cast, Callahan said, “It’s a pleasure being in Noel Coward’s classic play. I consider it an essential mark in my acting career. Everyone was so well cast, each person fits their role excellently. We all get along and have great interplay with each other.”
Chloe Hill plays Ruth, Charles’ second, living wife. She describes her character as a woman who knows what she wants. “She is confident, collected and sure of herself,” said Hill. “Overall, Ruth is very loving towards her husband until the supernatural events start happening around her home. She is unprepared for the paranormal since it is out of her control.”
Hill likes working on a classic play like “Blithe” and enjoys working with the cast. “Everyone is so fun to work with,” she said. “They have great spontaneous energy, bringing life to their characters. I also love being in a production with my boyfriend, Arlo. I brought him to auditions with me and have so enjoyed working with him onstage.”
When asked about working with director Troy Pepper, Hill said, “Troy has a vision for the show, but he will also collaborate with us to bring out a something that an actor came up with. I love having the ability to make my own choices.”
“Blithe” is her third production with The Oswego Players. Previous roles include Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream;” Celeste in “Yes, Virgina There is a Santa Claus;” Miss Prism in “The Importance of Being Earnest;” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.” She has a Bachelor of Arts in cinema and theatre from SUNY Oswego.
Hannah Kandt joined The Oswego Players in 2021 and has been in several shows with the troupe since, including “While the Lights Were Out” and “The Man Who Killed the Cure.”
She describes her character Elvira as, “Charles’ tragic dead first wife. As a ghost, Elvira is an awful person. She resents being dead. She wants to terrorize her living husband and his second wife and to make their lives a living hell.”
When asked about working with this cast and Pepper, Kandt said, “I have never worked with anyone on this cast before, but we are all playing so well together that I can see these wonderful people as my friends. I also really enjoy working with Troy. I have worked with him on a previous production and really loved the rehearsal experience. He has come up with some excellent ideas and we are trying our best to execute them. I would like to thank him for giving me a chance at playing this fantastic role.”
Performances of “Blithe Spirit” run Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 5-7 and 12-14. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.
“Blithe Spirit” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. This project is made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.
For more information, visit The Oswego Players at https://oswegoplayers.org/ or call the box office at 315-343-5138.
