Blithe Spirit
by
Noel Coward

Blithe Spirit is a comedic play by British playwright Noel Coward, first performed in the West End of London in 1941 where it ran for a record 1,997 performances before moving on to Broadway later that year. It centers around socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites clairvoyant Madame Arcati to his house to conduct a seance. He hopes to use the experience to write his next book, but the plan backfires when Arcati manages to summon his late first wife Elvira. Elvira attempts to disrupt his marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see and hear the ghost. Exploring themes of deception, love, loyalty, and the complex legacy of past relationships, “Blithe Spirit” is one of Coward’s most acclaimed plays and has been staged on Broadway multiple times.