Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit is a 1941 farce written by the English playwright, composer, and actor Noël Coward. Known for his wit and style, Coward’s theatrical career lasted for nearly six decades. Blithe Spirit, one of his most popular and enduring works, was first performed in the West End, running for 1,997 performances, before transferring to Broadway for 657 performances. It was adapted into the musical High Spirits in 1964. To this day, the play continues to be widely performed.

The play’s title foreshadows the play’s shifting tone. Blithe is a contranym, a word whose context determines which of the contradictory meanings are being used. Initially, the characters are presented as joyous and carefree. Charles and Ruth Condomine are happily married and living a conventional life. Ruth is unbothered by Charles’s past marriage. It quickly becomes apparent that these characters are actually thoughtless and indifferent. Charles dismisses his wife’s concerns and selfishly enjoys the familiarity of his relationship with Elvira. Elvira, the literal titular blithe spirit, schemes to break up the Condomine marriage. Ruth nags and positions herself as a martyr. In addition, Coward’s title alludes to Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “To a Skylark.” Shelley praises the skylark for its joyous and pure music, which he contrasts with the empty communication of humans. Charles, Ruth, and Elvira fail to communicate throughout the play.

The play is a farce, which is a genre of comedy that includes improbable situations, physical comedy, a compressed time frame, and broad characters. Coward uses dark humor in his farce to examine social anxieties while giving his audience a respite from the time’s difficulties. The play was performed in the midst of the London Blitz during World War II. The death and destruction contributes to both the play’s darkness and its humor. While dealing with dark subjects, Coward’s light touch provides relief to his audience.

This study guide refers to the 1968 Samuel French Acting Edition.

Plot Summary

The play begins with Charles Condomine, a novelist, and Ruth, his second wife, planning a dinner and séance with the local medium, Madame Arcati, so Charles can study her for his novel about a homicidal medium. They invited their friends Dr. and Mrs. Bradman. The maid, Edith, helps prepare the house, and Charles and Ruth discuss marriage, his books, and the supernatural.

The guests arrive, and they all eat dinner before holding the séance. During the séance, despite their declared skepticism, the Condomines and Bradmans witness Madame Arcati fall into a trance, and Charles hears the voice of his deceased first wife Elvira. Frightened, Charles ends the séance, and the evening’s gathering is finished.

After the dinner guests have left, the spirit of Elvira walks onstage into the living room. Charles can see and hear her, but no one else can. As a result, Ruth and Charles quarrel. Charles appears to insult Ruth when he addresses Elvira, and Ruth accuses him of faking it or being drunk. She angrily goes to bed, while he stays downstairs with Elvira.

The second act begins the next morning, and Ruth and Charles continue to argue. Ruth worries that he is going mad and suggests he sees a doctor. Trying to convince Ruth, Charles asks Elvira to move some flowers to prove her existence. When Elvira does just that, Ruth is still not convinced and rather thinks she is being tricked.

The next afternoon, Ruth meets again with Madame Arcati. She learns that Madame Arcati is unable to dematerialize Elvira. Ruth does not believe her. She insists that Charles must have subconsciously wanted Elvira back. In her frustration, Ruth is rude to Madame Arcati, who then leaves. Charles and Elvira enter. Elvira is pleased that her presence is breaking up Charles and Ruth’s marriage. Ruth swears she will get rid of Elvira.

Over the next few days, Edith and Charles have suspicious accidents. Ruth swears that Elvira is trying to kill him so they can be together forever, and Charles is convinced. Ruth and Charles plot to get rid of Elvira. Ruth leaves to get the Vicar to help. When Charles and Elvira speak to each other, it becomes clear that Elvira has rigged the car so the driver is killed. Ruth, having taken the car, is killed. Ruth’s ghost, invisible to Charles, begins to attack Elvira.

In the third act, Charles has asked Madame Arcati to return. She attempts to dematerialize Elvira again, but she inadvertently causes Ruth to materialize to Charles. After many failed efforts, Madame Arcati realizes that Charles did not summon Elvira or Ruth. The maid, Edith, is unknowingly responsible. Madame Arcati hypnotizes her, and the ghosts appear to disappear. Before leaving, Madame Arcati suggests Charles travel for a while.

Charles appears to be alone onstage. Yet when Charles teases his wives, objects begin crashing onstage. After promising to enjoy himself, Charles exits. As the play ends, objects continue to fall.