The Franklin College Theatre Department will present its first play of the year, Blithe Spirit, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 8, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. All performances will be in Théâtre Margot in the Johnson Center for Fine Arts.

Written by Noël Coward in 1941, this popular chaotic comedy follows socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites eccentric medium Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a séance in hope of getting material for his new novel. Things go awry when his tempestuous first wife Elvira, is accidentally summoned from the dead and begins disrupting Charles’ marriage to his second wife, Ruth. Only Charles can see Elvira, leading to comic mayhem. An attempt to rid himself of his first wife only causes more trouble for his second wife. This classic play was the basis for a film in 1945 and again in 2020.

Robin Roberts, professor of theatre at Franklin College, will direct the play. Roberts earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in playwriting from Southern Illinois University. He has a Master of Arts degree in theatre and speech from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in English from Clemson University.

General admission is $12. Admission for each performance is $8 for students and seniors (55 and older). Franklin College students, faculty and staff will receive free admission with a valid Franklin College ID.

To reserve tickets, email tickets@FranklinCollege.edu or call 317-738-8029 or 800-852-0232, ext. 8029. Please claim reservations ten minutes before the performance. The box office opens one hour before the performance.