★★★★

Judy Buxton gives a brilliant performance as eccentric medium and clairvoyant Madame Arcati, one of Noël Coward's most delightful characters, in the revival of Blithe Spirit at Devonshire Park Theatre.

Buxton shows she is not only a great actress but also possesses boundless energy with a vibrating dance routine prior to going into a trance. After collapsing on the floor, she recovers to deliver witty put-downs to her doubters – and finally whoops with joy when her psychic power pays off.

Madame Arcati has been invited to the Kent home of socialite and novelist Charles Condomine to conduct a séance.

His intention is to find out her “tricks of the trade” to gather material for his next book, but the scheme backfires, with Charles being haunted by the ghost of his mischievous first wife Elvira. She disrupts Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear her.

Talking Scarlet producer Patric Kearns has assembled a talented cast. Oliver Mellor is superb as the charming, self-centred Charles, showing the perfect mix of flippancy and then deep concern as things get out of hand.

Anna Brecon and Michelle Morris also shine as the two battling wives, Ruth and Elvira, but the rather bland characters of Doctor and Mrs Bradman give Ben Roddy and Katy Dean limited chances to impress.

Unfortunately the madcap dashing about of the maid, Edith (played enthusiastically by Polly Jordan) does not produce the hilarity intended by director John Hester. But overall, he captures the right atmosphere and pace for this 1940s comedy, with the help of designer Geoff Gilder.

Coward comes up with plenty of comical situations, though many of his lines achieve chuckles rather than belly laughs, and there is a misogynistic heartlessness about Charles' lack of concern for either of his wives.