March 13, 2013
A Spirited Spring Play Recipes
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Easy Green Velvet Cupcakes
Around Town
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Revenues Exceed Expectations
Around Town
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Trifecta of Easter Fun Shannon Burgdorf, Tom Bell, and Tanya Burns in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.
Photo by Ray Rockwell
Alpha Players of Florissant haunt the stage with Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” The Alpha Players of Florissant will bring Noel Coward’s otherworldly comedy Blithe Spirit to life—and afterlife—at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre for five performances beginning March 15. The classic farce centers on the tribulations of novelist Charles Condomine (Tom Bell), who dabbles in the occult with hilariously disastrous results. Researching a new book, Charles invites the eccentric medium Madame Arcati (J.S. Dent) to orchestrate a séance, assuming she will be a fraud. Following the séance, the ghost of Charles’ flirtatious first wife Elvira (Shannon Burgdorf) returns. Elvira’s appearance throws the ordered life Charles leads with his strong-willed second wife, Ruth (Tanya Burns), into turmoil as Elvira tries to rekindle her relationship with Charles. The séance wouldn’t be complete without the skeptical Dr. George Bradman (Bob Veatch) and his enthusiastic wife, Violet (Jennifer Kerner). And of course, Ruth can’t manage the ensuing madness without the assistance of her maid, Edith (Rachel Wilder). Director Judy Yordon and the cast will
have you laughing out loud and humming along to Irving Berlin as Charles, Ruth and Elvira try to figure out if they can all “live” together. Performances are March 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. and March 24 at 2 p.m. at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 314.921.5678 or at www.florissantmo.com. Single performance tickets are $16, with discounts for seniors, students, children 12 and under, and groups of 10 or more. Recognized as one of the oldest community theatre groups in the St. Louis area, The Alpha Players is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering quality, family friendly, affordable theatrical productions and opportunities for local citizens to participate in the arts. Their first production, Visit to a Small Planet, was presented in 1958 when a group of Florissant residents decided they needed an outlet for their dramatic interests. In the early years, productions were held in shopping mall auditoriums. Eventually, in the 1970’s, the group became one of two resident community theatre groups
performing at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, where it continues to present shows. Over the last 55 years, the group has grown to producing three shows per See A SPIRITED SPRING PLAY page 2
School
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First at Chess Tournament
Jack the Giant Slayer photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Movie
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