Charles Condomine is a
successful novelist. Ruth is
his charming, strong-willed
wife. In order to conduct
research for Charles’ latest
book, they invite a medium
to their home to perform a
séance,
expecting that the eccentric
psychic, Madame Arcati, will
be a humorous shyster. Well,
she is humorous – in fact,
her boisterous character
practically steals the show!
However, her ability to
connect with the dead is
genuine.
After prancing about the
room reciting nursery
rhymes, Madame Arcati
summons a ghost from
Charles’ past: Elvira – his
first wife. Charles can see
her, but no one else can.
Elvira is flirtatious and
catty. She enjoys insulting
Charles’ second wife.
At first Ruth thinks her
husband has gone insane.
Then, after watching a vase
float across the room
(thanks to Elvira), Ruth
accepts the strange truth.
What follows is a darkly
funny competition between
two women, one dead, one
living. They battle for the
possession of their husband.
But as the haunting and the
hollering continue, Charles
begins to wonder if he wants
to be with either woman at
all.
Noel
Coward’s
Blithe
Spirit
playfully
mocks
the
traditions
of love
and
marriage.
It also
thumbs
its nose
at the
Grim
Reaper.
What a
perfect
defense
mechanism
against
the
harsh
realities
England
faced
during
World
War II.
West End
audiences
embraced
this
darkly
amusing
comedy.
Blithe
Spirit
became a
resounding
success
that
continues
to haunt
the
British
and
American
stage.
