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Home , Blithe Spirit (play), Sheridan Morley, Terence Knapp

Noel Coward's

1 Blithe · Spirit

Featuring: Ashes by Lynette Amano Reunion by Bessie Toishigawa Inouye Oranges Are Lucky by Darrell H. Y . Lum All Brand New Classical Chinese Theater by Arthur Aw In the Alley by Edward Sakamoto Paradise Tours by Robert Morris The Travels of Heikiki by Charles R. Kates Twelf Nite 0 Wateva! by James Grant Benton an . """b\t.ed un'n''' ~east September 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 October 1, 2, 1983 ~ot ] the · Kennedy Theatre eat University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii The University Theatre Director's Notes presents

Noel Pierce Coward (1899-1973) was a legend in his own lifetime. His song and playwriting began in 1918 just a few years after an extremely precocious adolescence. As a child actor his career was energetically promoted by a 'stage mother' every bit as determined as the matriarch portrayed ] by Ethel Merman in GYPSY. Processing from the Imperial Twilight of Victorian Empire through the last opulence of Edwardian profligacy Coward found himself as a very young by Noel Coward ) man scrambling for fame and fortune. During the era, now labelled as the Great Depression or The Jazz Age, Coward's Directed by Terence Knapp hedonistic companions included Talullah Bankhead, the Scene design by Richard G. Mason Prince of and Wallis Simpson, the Mountbattens, and Costume design by Sandra Finney Alexander Woolcott. Lighting design by Noa Kristi It is difficult for the audiences of today to realise that in his early career Coward was regarded with angry spleen and vituperation. THE VORTEX (1924) and FALLEN ANGELS (1925) were regarded by middle-class reviewers of the time as thoroughly indecent and immoral because of the author's Characters (in order of appearance): lighthearted examination of such topics as drugs, drink and Edith ...... , ...... Diane Hutter debauchery. During the first decade of his notoriety, Coward Ruth ...... Kathryn Howard was once photographed in bed wearing exotic Chinese pyjamas making far flung telephone calls over an exquisite Charles ...... Christopher Goad breakfast tray. This image was impressed on the public mind Dr. Bradman ...... Keven Williamson through worldwide newspaper and magazine coverage. He Mrs. Bradman ...... ·...... Lynn Sager also created (1929) the first of his brilliant light Madame Arcati ...... Pamela Viera comedies and BITTER SWEET (1929) an operetta which Elvira ...... Didi Leong contained some of his sweet and sour songs such as " I'll See You Again", and "Someday I'll Find You ". DESIGN FOR A LIVING (1933) , written for the Lunts, titillatingly suggested a romantic menage a trois enough to shock the socks off The action of the play passes in the living room of the Broadway audiences with Coward himself making the third Condomine house in the country. to Alfred and Lynn. In 1931 , however, he wrote, composed, and stunningly Scene 1: Before dinner on a summer evening directed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, CAVALCADE. Scene 2: After dinner The play is an unashamedly jingoistic and sentimental Scene 3: The next morning overview of British life from the Boer War onwards which Scene 4: Late the following afternoon greatly pleased the man in the street and King George V. As Scene 5: Early evening, a few days later his plays were staged and filmed during the next decade, Scene 6: After dinner, a few days later Coward became a household name throughout the English Scene 7: Several hours later speaking world. For himself and he wrote and performed (1930) with simultaneous smash hit productions in (INTIMACIES) and Paris (LES ) AMANTS TERRIBLES) . Songs such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" and "Stately Homes of " swept around the world as Beatlemania would 30 years after and with J (1939) , (1939) , and the films of (1942) and BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945) the name and fame of Noel Coward continued a fabulous upsurge. There will be one intermission. BLITHE SPIRIT (1941) was produced at the height of Bl itz on Britain and first night audiences literally made their Notice: Smoking is not allowed in the auditorium, nor may way to the theatre around the bomb craters of the previous photographs or recordings be made during the performance. night. The play made a star of Margaret Ru therford as

8 9 Madame Arcati and ran in for almost 2000 performances, a record run exceeded only by 3 other productions in the history of the English stage. He wrote the play during a small visit to a small Welsh seaside town. who was with him on the trip reveals that he talked out the spine of the play, named the characters, and then proceeded to write the dialogue without changes in exacty si x days. and Mildred Natwick were among the stars who opened in the New York production at the Moresco Theatre that same year. From the 1950s on, apart ~~~~• from superb revivals, Coward's fortunes took a somewhat TRAVEL SERVICE downward turn until he created a one man cabaret act for himself which took London, New York, and most See us for all your travel needs. remarkably, Las Vegas, by storm. He performed some cameo roles in films and resided in the Caribbean and later 1021 North King St . Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph . 841-0484 in Switzerland where his house was constantly visited by a plethora of celebrities. He was feted by the Theatrical Profession in 1969 on his 70th birthday at Drury Lane when a choice selection of his work was presented by a dazzling cast of international KATHY MULLER MODELING & TALENT AGENCY performers. He was knighted in 1971 by Queen Elizabeth II. *********** A short while before he died he commented on his career presents and life as follows. Center Stage Ma le Modeling Cla sses "Sum it up? Well , now comes the terrible decision as to with Spec ial Guest Instructor whether to be corny or not. The answer is one word . Love. To RAY SASAKI, JR. know that you are among people whom you love, and who love you . That has made all the successes wonderful- much * The Govenor's Fash ion Director/Coordinator for " Hawa ii 83" more wonderful than they'd have been anyway, and I don 't * International Winner of the "World Award" by the think there's anything more to be said after that. That's it." California Fest ival of Fashion For further reading see A TALENT TO AMUSE (Heinemann, * President Hawaii Fash ion & Produ cts Association 1974) by , former graduate student of the University of Hawaii Department of Drama and Theatre. * President ADR Productions, Inc. * International Fashion Director for Malih ini Hawaii, Inc.

T.K. Cl asses for Male Ramp, Salon, Photo modeling; self-awareness and confidence, interview preparation; Grooming and dressing, Coming up next at Kennedy Theatre Body line and Pacing techniqu es. Call the Kathy Muller Agency for more information ***********737-7917

Costumes Unlimited has the COME In largest selection in town. Masks. make-up, hats. accessories and thousands October 21-22, 26-30 EARLY FOR of costumes for rent, ev erything from Kamehameha to E. Tt Music by Harvey Schmidt The favorites go first, so come HALLOWEEn in early and Book and lyrics by Tom Jones reserv e Directed by Roger Long yours with COSTUMES a deposit. The longest-running musical comedy in American history is a delightful love story filled with romanticism, bright Cvstumes comedy, and gentle wisdom. Unlimited Inc. Tickets go on sale October 11 . For details call 948-7655. 150 N. King St. Chinatown Across from Oahu Market 526-1460 or 537-4468

10 11 Blithe Spirit Production Crews

Stage manager: Dawn Oshima Assistant to the director: Ruth Yamamoto Light board operator: Randall Matsuno Sound board operator: Susi Ward Properties: Tom Giza, Newton Koshi, John Cimics Set construction: Cindy Carter, John Cimics, Tom Giza, Noa Kristi, Randall Matsuno, Dawn Oshima, Paul Palmore, Leslie Siegel, Susi Ward and students of Drama 101 and 240 Costume construction: Nancy Huffaker (crew head); JanDee Abraham, Starla Gallant, Pat Moey, James Young and students of Drama 101 and 256 Wardrobe: JanDee Abraham (crew head) ; Melissa Dahlke, Ellarose Perez, Suzie Shimizu, Grace Takahashi Makeup and wigs: Newton Koshi Program: Joel Light, Billie Ikeda (University Relations) Acknowledgements: 1983-84 University Theatre Season Announcement Brochure by Michael Tamaru and Billie I ked a of University Relations Office, 1983-84 University Theatre Billboards by Leonard Moses, Jr. University Theatre Production Staff

Director of Theatre ...... Glenn Cannon Director of Dance ...... Phyllis Haskell Student Assistant ...... Shari Weave r Director of Children's Theatre ...... Tamara Hunt Student Assistant ...... Cynthia See Director of Asian Theatre ...... James Brandon Research Assistant ...... Therese Moore Set Designer ...... Richard Mason Costume Designer ...... Sandra Finney Technical Director ...... Mark Boyd Theatre Technician ...... Arthur Caldeira Graduate Assistants ...... John Cimics, Noa Kristi, Dawn Oshima, Paul Palmore Student Assistants ...... Cindy Carter, Tom Giza, Randall Matsuno, Susi Ward Video Coordinator ...... Michiko Ueno Costume Shop Manager ...... Sandra Finney Graduate Assistant ...... Nancy Huffaker Student Assistants . JanDee Abraham, Starla Gallant, Pat Moey, Susi Ward Theatre Manager ...... Takeo Miji Publicity Director ...... Joel Light Publicity Assistants ...... Kimberly Bevers, Leonard Moses, Jr., Michiko Ueno Housemanagers ...... Steven Miller assisted by Michael Guthrie Box Office .... Janice Crowl assisted by Kari Huelle, Malia Johnston, Leonard Moses, Jr. Photographer ...... Malcolm Mekaru

12 13 Department of Drama and Theatre

Faculty: Edward Langhans, Chairman, Theatre History, Research Mark Boyd, Technical Theatre James Brandon, Asian Theatre (on leave) Glenn Cannon, Acting, Directing (on leave) Dennis Carroll , Film, Playwriting, Theory ~ Bernard Dukore, Dramatic Literature, Theory ~)~ Sandra Finney, Costume Peggy Gaither, Modern Dance EAGLE'S NEST Sandra Hammond, Ballet, Dance History, Join Johnnie and his Theatre Friends Renaissance Dance at the piano bar Phyllis Haskell , Dance Composition, Modern Dance Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. until closing Tamara Hunt, Creative Drama, Puppetry, Theatre for Children Terence Knapp, Acting, Directing Luncheon served Roger Long, Asian Theatre Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Richard Mason, Design Yasuki Sasa, Ballet Second Floor, Pan Am Building Elizabeth Wichmann, Asian Theatre 1630 Kapiolani Boulevard Staff: ~ Tel. 949-8877 Nellie Akiyama, Stenographer Arthur Caldeira, Technical Theatre ~~======Takeo Miji, Theatre Management Nancy Takei, Secretary Carolyn lshizaki , Student Assistant ( MARCUS Graduate Assistants: John Cimics (Technical), Yukihiro Goto (Acting), c.; i *' :t~s; *' «n•> ·• Nancy Huffaker (Costume), Noa Kristi (Technical), (Formerly Cavalier Restaurant) Joel Light (Publicity), Olava Menczkowski (Modern Dance), Therese Moore (Asian Research), Dawn Oshima (Technical), Paul Palmore (Technical), Businessmen's Luncheon Linda Parker (Ballet) Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Lecturers: Donna Dang (Ballet), Barbara Fitzsimmons Elegant dinner service (Acting), Harriet Glass (Intra to Dance, Dance Improvisation), Jacqueline Kellett (Creative at reasonable prices Movement), Takashi Koshi (Music Theory), Vivien 5:30 p.m.-9:30p.m. Lee (Modern Dance), Joyce Maltby (Acting), Kathy Omura (Ballet), Marie Takazawa (Jazz Dance), Jana Taluban (Modern Dance) Pan Am Building 1630 Kapiolani Boulevard

Tel. 949-4134 Department of Drama and Theatre University of Hawaii at Manoa

The faculty, staff, and students of the Department of Drama and Theatre welcome you and hope that you enjoy this performance. Theatrical presentations at the

·:. · ~ . University of Hawaii began at least as early as 1913, :<:(·:.:::.·;·-:··:·:_ : . ... when THE REVOLVING WEDGE was produced. By the 1920s various campus organizations were putting on one­ .:."1 • ',• • • I ...... :. .. ~ . .. act plays and skits, and in the 1930s in Farrington Hall ' ...... (now gone) each theatrical season saw four full-length ... works: a Western play, a Chinese play, a Japanese play, and a Hawaiian pageant. During the war years Maurice Evans and the Army Special Services used Farrington Hall for the preparation of about 100 productions, including the famous Gl HAMLET. The move to Kennedy Theatre in 1963 meant the possibility of a greatly expanded production program, and a typical calendar year now consists of as many as 30 theatrical events. In 1950 the Department of Drama and Theatre was formed out of the Speech Department and today offers degrees ranging from the BFA in Dance to the PhD in Asian or Western Theatre History, Theory, Criticism, and Dramatic Literature. The curriculum features over 100 courses in such diverse subjects as puppetry, ethnic dance, Japanese acting, tragedy, stage lighting, directing, dramatic theory, makeup, Labanotation, creative drama, Wayang Kulit, playwriting, costume design, theatre history, stagecraft, theatre management, acting, film, Asian field research , and many others. Our faculty views theatre not only as a craft but as an art form which can provide valid and arresting statements of significant human experience. Students are therefore expected to have or to develop a broad interest in the arts and humanities and to acquire a wide knowledge of the relation of theatre to these and other intellectual and creative activities. We welcome the participation of all University students in our academic and production programs and are always happy to have the support of those outside the student body through volunteer help, donations to our scholarship fund or theatrical equipment, or program advertising .

• Edward A. Langhans Chairman, Drama and Theatre

3 The University Theatre 1983-84

*Romulus Linney's THE LOVE SUICIDE AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS- directed by Sidney Milburn/ MFA September 1, 2, 3, 4

Noel Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT - directed by Terence Knapp September 23 , 24 , 28, 29 , 30 and October 1, 2 ** Schmidt and Jones' THE FANTASTICKS- directed by Roger Long October21 , 22 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30

*YOUNG CHOREOGRAPHERS November 10, 11 , 12, 13

William Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET- directed by Terence Knapp GREAT December 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 PERFORMANCES JIM GAMBLE AND HIS PUPPETS January 17, 18, 19, 20 (school performances) ''Alice in January 21 (public performances) ·Wonderland" *DANCE CONCERT- choreography by Vivien Lee/ MFA and Jana Taluban/ MFA Sparklin g Uroad way Musica l January 26 , 27 , 28, 29 ' Fea turing Fa ther&: D aug hter Team : Ri chard Uurto n as the Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST- directed by Glenn White Knig ht, Kate Uurto n Cannon as Ali ce ' February 17, 18, 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ** DANCE CONCERT- choreography Phyllis Haskell, Oct3, Yasuki Sasa, Peggy Gaither, and Moses Pendleton March 16, 17, 21 , 22 , 23, 24 , 25 8PM KHET DANCE CONCERT FOR CHILDREN I Ol.d h ao .llil.a..,t IIJ,Ilh: p~l'.. ,lhlc,: th!PU~h March 19, 20, 21 (school performances) gr.Jnh tru1 11 IL1nk l\l II.J\\ .111 .111d K.1h.d.a i lthnn ** Kawatake Mokuami's FISHING FOR A WIFE & THE DEMON'S HAND- directed by Leonard Pronko I-lAWAII P UllLIC f ELl· VIS ION l2itiJ The production is supported in part by the University of Hawaii Studies Endowment-Funded by a grant from the Japanese Government. 0 April 26 , 27 , 28 and May 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 •

VARSITY FLOWERS In addition to the above scheduled events, KUMU • KAHUA, an organization of drama students, produces Flowers for all occasions locally written plays throughout the year. Tel. 941-5874 or 949-2470 · Kennedy Lab Theatre ·· Presented in cooperation with the Department of Music

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