Blithe Spirit (London) London Reviews and Tickets

71%

(4 Reviews)

Positive

50%

Mixed

25%

Negative

25%

Members say

Clever, Quirky, Hilarious, Dated, Great writing

About the Show

Ab Fab's Jennifer Saunders stars in this comic caper about a dead ex wife who won't call it quits.

When whacky medium Madame Arcati accidentally returns Charles' deceased first wife to the world of the living, things get tricky fast! Second wife Ruth, along with everyone else, must now face the aftermath of an Elvira scorned in this classic farce. Starring BAFTA Award Fellowship recipient Jennifer Saunders ("French and Saunders", "Absolutely Fabulous"), Lisa Dillon (BBC's "Cranford") and Geoffrey Streatfeild ("The Thick of It", "Spooks"). Directed by five-time Olivier Award winner Richard Eyre.

Member Reviews (4)

Slow, Quirky, Clever

See it if you're a fan of classic British humour, Noel Coward or, indeed, Jennifer Saunders.

Don't see it if you're expecting a play re-staged for the 21st century. It remains very true to its roots, which makes some of the humour miss the mark.

Hilarious

See it if !

Don't see it if !

100

Great writing, Intelligent, Hilarious, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You're a fan of fast-paced English humour and wit! Also if you'd like to see Jennifer Saunders on stage!!

Don't see it if You don't have a sense of humour

Quirky, Dated

See it if You’re a fan of old fashioned and slightly ridiculous plays

Don't see it if You want to stay awake

Critic Reviews (11)

But in swapping tragedy for comedy, Eyre strains too much for comic eccentricity, and as a result, the comedy threatens to congeal instead of being liberated by it.
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Jennifer Saunders is a surprising beacon of subtlety in this brash reading of Noel Coward’s Forties comedy...But this amusing, awkward production undoubtedly belongs to Saunders.
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[Jennifer Saunders is] prone to scratching herself furiously and when she struggles with flatulence she could be a refugee from a Carry On film. Above all, her comic timing is impeccable.
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As the psychic Madame Arcati in this marvellous production, Saunders channels AbFab’s Edina – only with more intrepidity.
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Jennifer Saunders delights as a dotty medium...Noel Coward’s deathless comedy hits the West End in a deft, but dragging production by Richard Eyre.
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Jennifer Saunders is a one-woman tickle machine...So there is something really fitting about casting her as the spiritual medium Madame Arcati in this revival of Noël Coward's 1941 mega-hit.
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There’s really only one reason to see Richard Eyre’s revival of Noel Coward’s minor, supernatural 1941 comedy, first seen at Bath last year, and that’s Jennifer Saunders. She is simply magnificent as the eccentric medium Madame Arcati
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[Jennifer Saunders gives] a lovely physical performance. But around her, the production never settles. Saunders is on form – but apart from her, blitheness is in short supply.
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