Even for an actor, director, set designer and stage manager with fifty years experience, it has been quite the week for Mike Nower, who is at the helm of Rye Players’ next production, Blithe Spirit, and certainly not the week that he had planned.
Last week’s Rye News told the uplifting story of community support to help with set building. As you can see, the set-build was a triumph, fuelled by hot drinks, croissants and pizza to sustain the workers.
Mike’s community theatre credentials are considerable: he has acted in over thirty rôles in the UK, Florida and Hong Kong and he has directed over forty plays, including: Confusions, Relatively Speaking, The Lion in Winter, Deathtrap, Blackbird and many more. This revival of Blithe Spirit comes courtesy of its talented cast and dedicated crew which has been hard at work since mid-April. Here we see them in rehearsal, one week before opening.
Mike Nower commented: “I’m looking forward enormously to opening night next Friday. For many people, this is Coward’s masterpiece and I’m delighted to bring it to Rye Community Centre. I’m equally proud to say that this marks the return of Rye Players to the centre for the first time since January 2020. I think we know why that pause happened and both organisations have faced some challenges to get back on their feet. There are always a lot of leisure pursuits and entertainment to choose from in Rye, but a ticket for Blithe Spirit will go some way to support two great organisations. There’s a bar too!”
Blithe Spirit, June 28, 19:30 and June 29, 14:30 and 19:30. Book here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rye-players
Image Credits: Kt bruce .