A second opening night for Blithe Spirit has been canceled for Thursday night due to snow, but the Salem Theatre hopes the bad luck will end allowing shows on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon.
The comedy is designed to leave you laughing in your seats.
Assistant Director Taylor Parker sets the scene.
“The show is based in the 1940s. It’s about this author who is needing some substance for his next book so he gets his friends together and invites the town crazy lady to perform a séance so he can write a book about a psychic. And during the séance, some actual things do happen and some ghostly specters appear that he maybe didn’t anticipate.”
Those brought back include novelist Charles Condomine’s first wife as a ghost. The part is played by Kendra Herman.
“I think it’s harder for everybody else because they have to pretend like they can’t see me. Only Charles can see me so they have to make sure they aren’t looking at me and I have to sneak around and not be distracting. It has been fun and interesting anyway to try and be someone I’m not, definitely.”
This is Herman’s second performance on stage and is complimentary of everyone being so helpful.
Chelsea Duke is directing a play for the first time after overseeing several radio show productions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I could not have asked for a better cast. We chose to do this at the worst possible time with the best possible cast. They have really helped it come together and have gone above and beyond their parts for everything.”
Others in the cast include Nathan Duke, Shannon Hall-Nannini, Dottie Register, Crystal Sons, Jim Husk, and Kathie Garren.
Shows will be at seven Friday and Saturday nights and three Sunday afternoon if there are no more cancellations. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. They are available at Salem City Hall, online at salemiltheater.org, or at the door before each performance.
