It is “spooky” season in Oxford, and for any Rebel fans who were not sufficiently haunted by Ole Miss Football’s performance in Baton Rouge, La., there is another opportunity for a frightening thrill: Theatre Oxford’s “Blithe Spirit.”
The performance is set to take place at the Powerhouse on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The plot of “Blithe Spirit” follows an English author who, in search of an idea for his next work, makes the mistake of involving the supernatural.
Gavin Lane, a junior theatre arts major from Las Vegas and the production’s stage manager, provided more details about the performance.
“‘Blithe Spirit’ is a hilarious dark comedy that centers around aristocratic London author Charles Condomine, who needs inspiration for his newest thriller novel,” Lane said. “He summons psychic medium Madame Arcati to his residence to hold a seance, but something goes wrong. The ghost of his ex-wife Elvira begins to haunt Charles, proving to him that the afterlife is indeed nonfiction, unlike his books.”
Jackie Daniels is the director of “Blithe Spirit.” After moving to Water Valley, Miss., in 2018, she worked as a board member at Theatre Oxford. Daniels has high expectations for the performance.
“This is an extremely talented cast, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with them,” Daniels said. “The audience should expect to be thoroughly entertained.”
Lane described some of the exciting challenges he has faced working as stage manager.
“The biggest challenge for me and my assistant stage manager, Keelie (McClellan), is what we like to call ‘tracking’ for the props and for the set,” Lane said. “Essentially, we have to keep track of every single prop, set piece and decoration on that stage, down to the cigarettes.”
Moreover, the 1940s time period in which the play is set, as well as the social etiquette of the era, present their own difficulties.
“Since this show is a period piece centering around the wealthy, we have to make sure the details are correct,” Lane said. “(The characters) need to have the right cups for each drink, the proper sized plates, and saucers and the tables need to be set a certain way.”
A large contingent of this cast is composed of familiar faces from around the University of Mississippi campus.
“One of our biggest goals at Theatre Oxford is to unite the community,” Lane said. “This show will be the first show at the Powerhouse that has heavy involvement from students and faculty. The board, the management team and even some of our actors and understudies are students and faculty. This show, and the shows coming afterward, are a great way to see the Ole Miss family putting on shows in the community that everyone can enjoy.”
Lane’s debut with Theatre Oxford came last year when he acted in the Ten Minute Play Festival. After stage managing “Blithe Spirit,” he will serve as director for Theatre Oxford’s next show, “Peppermint Bear.” Though he has not been with the Theatre Oxford for very long, he has grown familiar with his fellow crew members.
“Even though I’m relatively new here, the theater world is so small that I already knew everyone coming in,” Lane said. “I have become good friends with all of these people either through the Ten Minute Play Festival, my work at the Ford Center or the Department of Theater and Film at Ole Miss.”
Joe Atkins, the chair of the public relations committee at Theatre Oxford, is looking forward to the production.
“This is an exciting production for Theatre Oxford and for the community of Oxford,” Atkins said. “Noël Coward’s play is a true classic, and it’s a perfect fit with Halloween coming up. Also, it’s the playwright’s 125th birthday. Perfect timing.”
Tickets can be found on the Theatre Oxford website starting at $13 for Theatre Oxford members and children, $16 for students and seniors and $21 for those who do not fall into either of those categories.
