Blithe Spirit

Summary: 1964 Granada production for ITV of Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward, presented in the four-play series A Choice of Coward.
Theatre play: Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward (1899-1973) [more information]
Play synopsis: The comedy ‘concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles’s marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blithe_Spirit_%28play%29.
Production history: 'The play was first seen in the West End in 1941, creating a new long-run record for non-musical British plays of 1,997 performances. It also did well on Broadway later that year, running for 657 performances. Coward adapted the play for film in 1945, starring Rex Harrison, and directed a musical adaptation, High Spirits, on Broadway in 1964.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blithe_Spirit_%28play%29.
Date of transmission: Monday 17 August 1964
Time: 9.10-10.30pm
Series: Choice of Coward
Channel: ITV
Production company: Granada Television (1956-)

Director

Joan Kemp-Welch (1906-1999)

Producer

Joan Kemp-Welch (1906-1999)

Playwright

Noël Coward (1899-1973)

Adapted for Television by

Gerald Savory (1909-1996)

Designer

Peter Phillips

Cast

Title: A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter, Blithe Spirit, The Vortex, Design for Living
Notes: Published by Network in 2010

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