Things are about to get frightfully funny on the Max Bell Theatre stage as Theatre Calgary presents Blithe Spirit, the iconic comedy from one of the greatest British wits, Noël Coward.

Written in 1941, Blithe Spirit is the story of novelist Charles Condomine, who, upon inviting a medium named Madame Arcati to a dinner party, accidentally brings the spirit of his deceased wife into the natural world. Charles can see the ghost of his late wife (Elvira), but she is invisible to everyone else, including his current wife, Ruth. Elvira’s arrival causes chaos for Charles, as both women fight for his love and attention. The rest of the plot shall remain secret, to avoid spoilers!

“This really is a sparkling comedy about love, loss, and the unexpected ties that bind us,” says Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Stafford Arima. “The script is full of Coward’s signature wit and razor-sharp dialogue, and he crafts a world where the past refuses to stay buried, and the afterlife proves to be just as complicated as the one left behind.”

Above: (l to r) Meg Farhall, Emily Howard, Corrine Koslo, and Christopher Hunt during the first read-through.

Arima also notes that this is not the first time Theatre Calgary has staged this classic. “Blithe Spirit was last seen on our stage in 1989, and this production also marks the return of director Nikki Loach, who will be helming the piece.” Loach is no stranger to Theatre Calgary, as her past directing credits include The Miracle Worker, Crimes of the Heart,  A Christmas Carol, Gaslight, and Memoir.

“In Blithe Spirit, Coward lets us watch the worlds of the natural, unnatural, and supernatural collide,” says Loach. “A couple in Britain in the 1940s were married for life. A traditional ceremonial vow such as ‘till death do us part’ presents an inflexible binding lifelong contract. Humans, however, are impossibly flawed, and throughout history we have always lost the battle between what we ought to do and what we actually do.”

“However, Coward gives us a chance to see beyond our norms and into the supernatural world. A place where spirits play cards, where they have their own parties, suffer from colds, and look down on their loved ones still on earth,” explains Loach. “When the character of Madame Arcati intersects the worlds of the living and the dead, secrets are revealed, control is lost, and characters begin to wonder how does ‘till death do us part’ apply to their situation. Watching the rules being set up, broken, and come off the rails is our framework for realizing what Coward calls his ‘improbable farce’.”

Blithe Spirit features a few familiar faces to Theatre Calgary audiences with a cast that includes Tyrell Crews (Charles), Emily Howard (Elvira), and Christopher Hunt (Dr. Bradman). Making their Theatre Calgary debuts are Louise Duff (Ruth), Ali DeRegt (Edith), Meg Farhall (Mrs. Bradman), and well-known Canadian actor Corrine Koslo (Madame Arcati). The understudies for the show are Christopher Duthie and Brianna Johnston. 

The cast and creative team of Blithe Spirit on the first day of rehearsal.

Blithe Spirit runs at Theatre Calgary from March 18 - April 13 in the Max Bell Theatre at Arts Commons. As part of Theatre Calgary’s ‘Theatre For All’ initiative, all main floor tickets are just $44 for regular performances, and can be purchased online at theatrecalgary.com.

Header image: The maquette of the Blithe Spirit set design by Scott Reid.