By Shawn Maus
Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit is an “improbable farce” first staged in 1941 that became an instant success on both sides of the Atlantic. The story follows novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium Madame Arcati to conduct a séance for research on his next book. The experiment backfires spectacularly when the ghost of Charles’s first wife, Elvira, materializes (visible only to him) and begins meddling in his marriage to his second wife, Ruth.
Coward’s play is famous for its cool, brittle humor and its own emotional detachment—a comedy of manners wrapped in the supernatural. The challenge lies in making the audience care about characters who rarely seem to care about anything themselves.
MSJ Theatre Production An Earnest Effort
Mount St. Joseph University’s production approached that challenge with ambition and care. Director Lauren Carr guided the ensemble through Coward’s verbal maze with clear intent, though the pace occasionally dragged in the wordier exchanges on the night I attended. Some of the humor got lost when the staging forces much of the action upstage—especially around the bar scenes, where dialogue sometimes struggled to reach the audience.
Still, the production’s structure shows thoughtful choices. The adaptation condenses Coward’s original three-act script into two acts without sacrificing coherence, maintaining the story’s rhythm and sense of occasion. The result is a performance that understands Coward’s world, even if it doesn’t always capture his razor-sharp tempo (difficult for even more seasoned troupes).
The Design Team
If the comedy doesn’t always sparkle, the visual world certainly does. The costuming (Caroline Stine) is a standout—elegant, precise, and period-perfect. Each character’s wardrobe reflects both class and personality, from Ruth’s polished sophistication to Elvira’s ethereal shimmer. Her transformation from living wife to ghostly presence is handled with subtle artistry, as her palette shifts from warm tones to spectral whites.
The set design captures the charm of an English country home, complete with tasteful antiques and carefully chosen props. A few technical details—like a prominently visible clock forever frozen at 5:10—distracts from the otherwise polished environment. Still, the overall aesthetic reflects a strong visual sensibility and a clear understanding of Coward’s refined world.
The Performers
Connor Curtin as Charles Condomine gives a smooth, urbane performance as the witty novelist caught between two worlds—and two wives. His chemistry with both women lends charm and tension to the chaos.
Eva Mullins’s Ruth brings poise and precision to her performance, embodying a woman who prizes control in a world slipping rapidly out of it. Her transformation—from polished hostess to spectral presence—is one of the evening’s most striking visual arcs, though a touch more fire in her exchanges with Elvira might sharpen the comedy.
As Elvira, Sarah Barton glides effortlessly between flirtatiousness and menace. Her playfulness keeps the ghost’s antics buoyant while her sly smirks reminds us she’s not just here for fun.
The standout of the night is Jocelyn Snider’s Madame Arcati, whose boundless eccentricity and impeccable timing carries the show’s farcical edge. Snider leans into the character’s quirks with fearless enthusiasm, particularly during the séance scene, where her comic energy lifts the entire room.
Supporting performances by Zachary Young and Elizabeth Keller (Dr. and Mrs. Bradman) provide a pleasant, if restrained, backdrop of upper-class propriety. Sarah Haverbusch, as the overzealous maid Edith, delivers some of the production’s broadest laughs. Her exaggerated pacing across the room becomes a running gag that lands every time.
Shawn Says:
While the production hits a few bumps in pacing on the night I attended—and yes, that clock stubbornly stuck at 5:10 even as the characters mention the time eleven different times (a personal pet peeve in set design!)—Blithe Spirit at MSJ is an earnest and ambitious effort. Tackling a 1941 play from another culture and era is no easy task, and this cast and creative team leans into that challenge with admirable commitment. Their work offers not just entertainment but an education in what it takes to bring a theatrical classic to life in 2025. That alone deserves applause.
Mount St. Joseph University’s Blithe Spirit delivers a stylish, sincere evening that looks the part, even when the humor doesn’t fully land. Strong design and a spirited turn by Jocelyn Snider keeps the show afloat, proving that even when Coward’s wit doesn’t quite crackle, the ghosts of good intentions can still charm an audience.
Get Tickets
MSJ Theatre’s Blithe Spirit runs through Nov. 14-15, 2025, at the Williams Recital Hall. Visit https://msjtheatre.booktix.com for tickets.
