This North Coast Weekend

HSU Theatre has opened Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit at the Van Duzer Theatre, playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (March 1-3) and Sunday (March 4) at 2 p.m.   This comedy, involving a medium, a mystery writer, ghosts in an English country house and "astral bigamy" was the comedy that got London through the Blitz, the V-1s and V-2s.  From 1941 to after World War II was over, it played nearly 3,000 performances with not one performance cancelled.

This history seemed of little interest to the opening night student audience on Wednesday, but judging from the Talkback afterwards they saw a lot in the play that was relevant to their lives.   Directed by Jyl Hewston, it features Kyle Handziak and Colleen Lacy as Charles and Ruth Condomine. Lillian Damron is the ghostly Elvira, while Phoebe Sager is the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati. Lincoln Mitchell and Saundra Dacre are the other couple at the seance, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, and Adrienne Ralsten is the curiously essential maid, Edith.   Tickets from HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door.  Much more information: HSU Stage and Screen.