BLITHE Spirit, one of Noel Coward’s most delightful comedies, is the winter choice for Dorchester Drama, at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

Novelist Charles Condomine wants material for his next book, and rather hopes that a séance with the village’s eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati will provide it. Is she for real? Well, someone has certainly precipitated the arrival of a ghost.

Charles’ first wife Elvira, jealous and perhaps worse, forms an unwitting ménage a trois with Charles and his new wife Ruth. Ruth can’t see Elvira and fears Charles may be losing his mind…

Described by Coward himself as “an improbable farce in three acts,” Blithe Spirit was first performed in the West End in the depths of the Second World War, in 1941. It ran for an unprecedented 1,997 performances (and 657 on Broadway).

Join Dorchester Drama and director Dee Thorne, for a production of supernatural humour from the superlative pen of Noel Coward at the height of his comedic powers. The title comes from Shelley’s poem To A Skylark – Hail to thee blithe spirit, bird though never wert.”

Pictured are Mel Austin (right) as Elvira and Linda Bolton as the second Mrs Condomine; Peter Gordon as Charles Condomine, Barbara Proctor as Madame Arcati and Linda Bolton, during the seance.