3 - Blithe Spirit: Shadow Work on Stage and Screen (1941, 1945, & 2020)

Tonight we lead by counter-example as we explore Noël Coward's 1941 play Blithe Spirit by way of its movie adaptations. They could have been better, and that's interesting!

Hour 1: After discussing David Lean's challenges in making the 1945 film adaptation, including limitations of Hays code-era filmmaking, Annabelle gives a scathing review of the newly "liberated" 2020 Edward Hall version. Hour 2: Quest offers his theatrical expertise to lead a conversation about Blithe Spirit's value as a live performance and how the play is uniquely suited to the stage. We also discuss gender roles, category crisis (presence and absence, skepticism/belief, monogamy/polygamy), class hauntings, and sexuality.

There will be spoilers, but we hope they won't discourage you from seeking out a script, performance, or (maybe) a cinematic version of this wonderful play about marriage, mediumship, and of course, ghosts.

Note: This episode is marked explicit for some mild cursing and a very brief discussion of sexual content.

Make contact:

@ghostswerepeopletoo

[email protected]

Bibliography

Noel Coward and Radclyffe Hall: Kindred Spirits by Terry Castle

‘Blithe Spirit’ Review: Flat, Dated Resurrection of Noël Coward Farce Proves Some Things Are Better Left Dead," Guy Lodge for Variety (2020)