Wicked Humor Swimming in Dry Martinis, Fringe’s “Blithe Spirit”

What happens when a cantankerous writer undertakes a séance with his high-strung second wife and a flimflam clairvoyant, as research for his next murder mystery?  

Come and see how Noël Coward’s hilarious comedy classic “Blithe Spirit” is re-imagined by director Peter King in the Fringe Theater’s much-anticipated production, opening tomorrow evening, January 15, at the transformed Parish Hall of St. Paul’s Church (401 Duval St. in Key West). Curtain is at 8pm. The run continues January 16-17, January 19-23 and 26-31.  

Peter King directs an outstanding ensemble including: Vanessa McCaffrey as medium Madame Arcati, Justin Ahearn as beleaguered Charles, Bridget Chebo as the fiery Elvira, Caroline Taylor as uptight Ruth, Kitty Clements as the devilish Edith, and Tony Konrath and Tammy Shanley as friends Dr. and Mrs. Bradman.  

Opening night tickets include a reception hosted by Tony Konrath and Bryan Green with Fringe’s own Resident Chef, Andrew Nguyen, who will provide a delectable spread and an open wine bar, as the audience enjoys lively conversation with the cast and director. 

“Blithe Spirit,” called Noël Coward’s “improbable farce,” is a sly sendup of matrimonial love that hinges on a ménage a trois with a macabre twist. Novelist Charles Condomine and priggish second wife Ruth are living a quiet country life. Their world is turned upside down by his plan to expose eccentric medium Madame Arcati as a phony. Instead Madame accidently conjures up Elvira, Charles’ deceased and “morally untidy” first wife, and things get thoroughly out of hand.   

Visible only to Charles, Elvira provokes him into quarreling and when he answers back in anger, Ruth thinks he’s talking to her.  When Ruth finally accepts that Elvira is there, she is bent on exorcising her, but Elvira has no intentions of departing without her former husband. She wants him for all eternity and sets about fixing things, with ghastly and hilarious results.  

Coward’s works are classics that stand the test of time. Sir Noël Peirce Coward (1899 – 1973) was an English playwright, composer, actor, and singer who dazzled audiences on both sides of the pond with his entertaining insights into love and society. Legend has it Noël Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in six days. It caused a sensation when it was first seen in 1941, becoming one of longest running shows with nearly 2,000 performances. The most popular of Coward’s plays, Blithe Spirit ran on Broadway for several years, was adapted for television and radio, and enjoys regular revivals.  In 1945 it was adapted as a movie starring Rex Harrison and directed by David Lean. Angela Lansbury portrayed Madame Arcati in a successful 2014 West End run which followed her 2009 Tony award-winning performance, where her Madame Arcati was described as, “a very self-serious medium on the prowl for vibrations from the spirit world” (NY Times). 

Tickets are available at or at www.fringetheater.org or (305) 707-4053 or keystix.com or 305-296-7676.      

Fringe Theater of Key West is a non-profit theater that creates, educates, and entertains with classic and innovative intimate theater. The five-year-old theater is supported by The Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Dogwood Foundation, Keys Energy, and private donors. For more information, go to www.fringetheater.org. 

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