CHARLES Condomine is delighted when his first wife, Elvira, returns from the dead but things soon get complicated in the latest comedy from the Nonentities.

Blithe Spirit, staged at the Rose Theatre, provides plenty of laughs as a seance led by the medium, Madam Arcate (Do Evans), has unexpected results.

Paul Morrell, who played Charles, was excellent as the author, who thinks he is going mad when the ghostly presence appears, much to the despair of his second wife, Ruth. (Vivienne Cole).

The witty banter between Charles and his two wives is very entertaining to watch and ghost, Elvira, played superbly by Louise Fulwell, has a dark sense of humour, with Ruth often on the receiving end of her jokes.

Cole seemed well suited to the role of the outraged housewife who cannot see the troublesome spirit who has invaded her house.

Although Charles does not seem to believe his luck when Elvira returns home, he soon starts to regret ever asking Madam Arcate to hold the seance.

Evans was fantastic as the mysterious medium, unwilling to take the blame for all the trouble she has caused, although she did talk very quickly and it was sometimes difficult to catch what she was saying.

Adding to the drama is housemaid-in-training, Edith (Laurie Pollitt), and guests for the seance, sceptical Dr Bradman (Martin Drury) and his curious wife, played by Carolyn Brinton, who often puts her foot in it.

One complaint would be that the scene changes seemed to take a long time so the audience's attention was lost at vital moments in the play.

It is still a very good night out, with plenty of amusing moments to keep the audience laughing as the characters get to grips with the unusual situation they find themselves in.

HL