When a dinner party séance accidentally summons the host’s first wife, Elvira, chaos ensues in Noël Coward’s farcical Blithe Spirit.

Mischievous and impossible to ignore, Elvira is determined to win back her husband’s affection, much to the dismay of his current wife.

Under the direction of Rosane McNamara, the production embraces Coward’s sharp wit and the delicious absurdity of a man caught between two wives, one alive and one dead.

Elvira (Daisy Cousens) is a vision of old Hollywood glamour, complete with bold red lipstick and an attitude to match. Cheeky and troublesome, her deadpan expressions are priceless, especially when accompanied by an exaggerated eye roll. Charles (Mike Booth) finds himself in a complicated love triangle, though he clearly enjoys all the attention. His new wife, Ruth (Michela Noonan), reluctantly accepts it but is understandably frustrated by the unwelcome intrusion into her marriage. Then there’s Madame Arcati (Emily Weare), the intense medium, with wide eyes that seem to see almost all. Her posh mannerisms and vocal delivery leave little doubt when she is displeased.

Farce relies on timing, and McNamara’s direction ensures the laughs land, especially in moments when Elvira causes the most havoc.

First written and produced in 1941, Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in just six days during the Blitz, giving audiences a chance to laugh during a difficult period. Nearly 90 years later, its humour and exploration of the supernatural remain appealing. McNamara is particularly interested in the play’s exploration of what lies beyond the living world. She describes being fascinated by the idea that “the line between this life and the other world or afterlife is a thin veil that can be crossed, given the right circumstances.”

With the past haunting the present, the play also delivers an interesting message about marriage, memory and the people we can’t quite let go of. As McNamara observes, “I think we tend to edit the past, especially when we’ve lost someone before the relationship has run its natural course. The person lost becomes frozen in time in our memory and we tend to romanticise the past relationship.”

Wrapped in the glamour of high society, Tom Bannerman’s set design captures the elegance of the 1940s with a drinks trolley, martini glasses and a white chaise lounge. Michael Schell’s lighting and sound design, including the sound of rain, help to establish the atmosphere.

McNamara hopes audiences leave with an appreciation of Coward’s ‘talent to amuse’ and ability to incorporate darker tones into his comedy. “Death is an enduring concern and there’s something both naughty and nice about being invited to laugh at it.”

Blithe Spirit is a delightfully wicked comedy where supernatural mischief comes with its own punchlines.