In 1941, with German bombs falling on London, Noël Coward escaped to the Welsh seaside village of Portmeirion and worked on an idea about ghosts.
Sitting beside a seawall with his friend, actress Joyce Carey, he talked through the characters and plot. Six days at the typewriter, according to his autobiography, produced “Blithe Spirit.”
Six days. Some of us take longer to answer an email.
With death an all-too-familiar presence, Coward imagined an afterlife in which people remained just as jealous, possessive and inconvenient as before. Death might interrupt a marriage — but apparently, it cannot end an argument.
Now at Long Beach Playhouse, director Lauren Velasco’s delightful production makes a splendid case for keeping that argument going.
Charles Condomine, played like a perfect dry martini by Taylor Goss, is a novelist looking for material. He invites a medium into his home, expecting an entertaining evening that might provide something useful for his next book. What he gets is his first wife.
His deceased first wife, Elvira, is effervescently channeled by Amara Phelps
His current wife, Ruth, skillfully executed by the commanding performance of Amelia Priestly, is understandably less than enthusiastic.
The cast fits these roles like bespoke suits: elegant, individually tailored and distinctly British. There is enormous pleasure watching actors seem so entirely comfortable playing people whose circumstances are becoming so thoroughly uncomfortable.
Goss, Priestley and Phelps make a particularly glamorous trio. They have the polish and presence Coward’s world demands, along with the chemistry that makes its domestic warfare such fun. All three possess impeccable British comic timing, giving the exchanges a precision that allows the foolishness flourish.
These are people who can make an insult sound like good manners — at least until you realize what has been said.
Phelps’s Elvira complicates considerably more than the evening’s conversation. Priestley’s Ruth has every reason to believe being alive should give her an advantage in her own marriage. Goss’s Charles is caught between them, although “caught” gives him perhaps too much credit for innocence.
Cassie Wright as Edith, Philip Brickey as Dr. Bradman and Lisa J. Salas as Mrs. Bradman land their comic beats beautifully. Every member of this company contributes to the pleasure.
And then there is Yvonne Robertson as Madame Arcati. What a delight! Her eccentric medium lands the comedy brilliantly. While others approach the séance as entertainment, Arcati has come to work. Unfortunately, her clients would now very much like her to undo it.
The vintage clothing lends lovely period elegance, while the set offers a spooky valentine in reds, pinks and mauves — a romantic room where even the décor seems deliciously haunted.
Beneath all this wonderful foolishness is Coward’s understanding of human behavior. People can dress beautifully, speak elegantly and still behave like children denied a favorite toy. Everybody wants to be understood; few want to understand anyone else.
Sound familiar?
Velasco and her company give this supernatural marital mess charm, chemistry and comic finesse. Some marriages end at the grave. This one is much too entertaining to stop there.
‘Blithe Spirit’
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on select Sundays through Nov. 28.
Where: Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St.
Cost: Tickets vary.
Information: lbplayhouse.org.