Blithe Spirit

Charles Condomine is a novelist whose latest book will be about séances. As a form of research, he arranges for a local spiritualist, Madame Arcati, to perform a séance for them. However, in the process he accidentally summons up the spirit of his first wife, Elvira… and his second wife, Ruth, is not happy about this development. Hilarity ensues for the audience, though, as the two wives battle for supremacy and Charles battles for a bit of peace.

As befits a Noël Coward play, this contains a great deal of dialogue with wit as dry as the classic Martinis that the characters drink throughout the proceedings. Madame Arcati is hilarious, with her good cheer and plucky, can-do attitude toward all matters spiritual (a refreshing contrast show more to the usual ethereal and super-serious psychics on offer). I found the Bradmans annoying during the initial séance because they kept sassing Madame Arcati; interrupting people is so rude! Fortunately, they did not appear too much after that.

This is the sort of play you'll want to read out loud at home to yourself, or maybe gather a group together to act out. It's just too fun, darling. show less

I was obsessed with the classic film version (not the dreadful 2020 remake) of Noel Coward's play when I was younger, and would watch my taped VHS copy (!) over and over again. I came across the book of the play in a sale of withdrawn stock at the library and had to 'save' it, but I must admit that I've only just got around to reading Coward's original script. Of course, I could 'hear' Margaret Rutherford, Rex Harrision et al, as the film follows the play almost to the letter, and now have the itch to watch an old favourite. "We are quite, quite wrong!"

I was looking for a short audiobook to listen to while awaiting holds and opted for this old favourite. Noel Coward never fails to amuse and this comedy in which an author and his friends hold a seance and accidentally bring back the spirit of his deceased wife, much to the chagrin of both him and his current wife, is funny no matter how many times I experience it. Joanna Lumley was particularly good in this production as Elvira, the ghost. Highly recommended if you're looking for a funny couple hours of listening.

[3.5 / 5.0]

A light-hearted comedy, Noël Coward's 'Blithe Spirit' has some good laughs, as well as clever and creative premise. Though the dialogue is amusing at some turns, funny at the next, some (not all) of it still feels dated. The beleaguered husband and the demanding wife trope feels very 1940s.

Some of the insights on relationships still ring true, however, and some of the jokes still land.

Well, Noel Coward might not be as funny as Oscar Wilde but this is still an enjoyable read. It's a little unexpected and also a bit wicked (I have a hard time even typing that word but I think it's sort of apt.) It takes place, like Wilde's plays, it takes place within the aristocracy and deals in sometimes flightly ways with their interpersonal relationships. There are times you laugh out loud even though it probably would be a tragedy if written differently. At the same time, it's not as much of a witty criticism as Oscar usually provides.

This enchanting Coward comedy is set in the charming country home of Charles Condomine, a re-married widower. A witty and convivial evening party among friends is transformed when a s̩ance conjures the ghost of Elvira, Charles first wife, who delights in wreaking havoc among the living. A L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: Rosalind Ayres, Alexandra Boyd, Judy Geeson, Shirley Knight, Lynne Marta, Christopher Neame and Ian Ogilvy.

Somehow I’ve never read a Noël Coward play. I know—how dare?!

This was a lot of fun. I hope to be able to see a live production of it someday.