Did you know there was a ghost haunting the Historic Everett Theatre?
If you are not familiar with Smilin’ Al, he’s the ghost that has allegedly been haunting the theater since the early 1990s. He’s named after the legendary Al Jolson who once performed on that historic stage.
Now, the Red Curtain Foundation people are worried that Smilin’ Al might make an appearance during their production of “Blithe Spirit.”
Producer Scott Randall kids. But you never know…
“We’re hoping the seance doesn’t anger him,” Randall joked.
The seance is one of the many funny scenes from the supernatural comedy “Blithe Spirit,” written by Noel Coward and opening at Historic Everett tonight.
The comedy kicks off Red Curtain Foundation’s new season and is “a good tie in with the ghost in the theater and Halloween,” Randall said. “So it’s very appropriate.”
And what Randall called a “very intelligent farce.”
“It kind of embodies everything great theater should be,” Randall said.
“Blithe Spirit” has tremendous language, just enough slapstick and, of course, a ghost.
The story line produces fussy and cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine — played by local community theater favorite Asa Sholdez — who has re-married but is now literally haunted by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira.
“Charles is the most normal of all of them and he is thrown into this turmoil,” Randall said.
It is the flamboyant clairvoyant Madame Arcati who performs the seance, and she is outrageous, Randall said.
“Madame Arcati has the stereotypical flamboyant gestures and she’s not very conscious of other people’s personal space,” Randall said. “She’s a whirlwind and you don’t know what will happen next.”
You’ll have to attend a performance to find out.
“Blithe Spirit” opens at 8 tonight at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 9.
Tickets are $15 and $12. Call 425-258-6766 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com or www.redcurtainfoundation.org or in person.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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