The 1941 Noel Coward play is lighting up the stage in Bath this week as Jennifer Saunders stars in Blithe Spirit, the comedy about meddling with the afterlife.

When writer Charles wants to spark some inspiration for a new character based around a medium, he invites the quirky character Madame Arcati round for dinner.

But what he doesn’t bargain for is the ghost of his ex-wife Elvira being summoned back into his home, which he now shares with second wife Ruth.

The Absolutely Fabulous star’s comic timing brings Madam Arcati to life, through her stocky, no nonsense command of the room.

From quivering lights to bumps in the night, the set is exquisite and shows the downward spiral of order within the family home.

No one is safe from the fall out of the seance, not even the clumsy maid, Hell bent on getting things done on the double. The audience were roaring with laughter as the chaos and cat fighting between new wife and ghostly spirit grow and Charles looses grip on how to undo the damage of his nosiness into the dark arts. It was a packed out house to see the drama unfold and Jennifer Saunders physical comedy is just one way in which the cast enthral and entertain.

Noel Coward’s interest in psychic matters seems to have been sparked as a child when, according to his biographer Cole Lesley, he attended a seance with his mother, where he was invited up onto stage and the medium proclaimed that he would go on to have a wonderful career, a good sign for things to come.

It was turned into a film in 1945 with Dame Margaret Rutherford as Madame Arcati. Dame Judi Dench takes on the role in the remake this year.

Blithe Spirit is on at Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday February 8. Tickets start from £33 from the box office on 01225 448844 or online www.theatreroyal.org.uk/your-visit/box-office/

Julia Hijstek