WALLACE – There's something positively ghastly happening at the Sixth Street Theatre as it prepares to open its November production of Blithe Spirit.

For fans of spooky comedy, the 1941 classic from English playwright Noël Coward is the perfect way to spend a fall evening.

Directed by Paul Roberts, the production is brought to life by a talented cast, a hilariously sharp script and exquisite set design, making it a must-see for local theater lovers.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Blithe Spirit follows Charles Condomine, a successful novelist who invites eccentric medium Madame Arcati to conduct a séance with friends Dr. and Mrs. Bradman as research for a new book.

Everyone expects the séance to be little more than amusing nonsense. Instead, Madame Arcati accidentally summons the ghost of Charles' first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years.

The catch is that only Charles can see or hear her.

As Charles appears to carry on conversations with thin air, his second wife, Ruth, begins to suspect her husband has lost his mind. Meanwhile, Elvira takes great pleasure in tormenting Ruth, whose insecurities about her husband's lingering feelings quickly come bubbling to the surface.

When Elvira decides she would rather have Charles join her in the afterlife, things quickly go off the rails. Suddenly, Charles finds himself trapped between the two women he loves and their determination to keep him all to themselves.

Coward's play explores marriage, jealousy, rationalism versus the supernatural and grief through a farcical lens, offering the sort of lighthearted escapism that likely resonated with audiences when it debuted during World War II.

"Coward was well known for his wit and making fun of the upper crust," Roberts said. "The characters are all extremely intelligent, educated and think they know everything when, in fact, they do not."

For Roberts, that's part of the show's enduring appeal. The characters race through expansive dialogue at a torrid pace while attempting to maintain their composure as increasingly unbelievable events unfold around them.

The production stars three newcomers to the playhouse stage: Michael Newsome as Charles, Leah Thompson as Ruth and Vasi Crostwaithe as Elvira.

While Blithe Spirit has never been performed at Sixth Street, Roberts is no stranger to the story. During his time teaching drama at Kellogg High School, several students wanted to stage the show. Because of its lengthy runtime, Roberts adapted the script into a shorter version suitable for a school production.

This time around, his cast wanted none of it.

For Sixth Street's production, the actors insisted on performing the original script in its entirety.

The three-act show runs about 2½ hours, including two intermissions.

"There was a time when we all realized how long this was going to be, and I asked them if I needed to edit the script," Roberts said. "They hated the idea and off we went."

The rest of the cast includes Sixth Street veterans Joe Moore as Dr. Bradman, Dacey Moore as Mrs. Bradman, Jes Harpel as Edith and Carol Roberts as the scene-stealing Madame Arcati.

"It's a great fall show," Roberts said.

Blithe Spirit opens Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Sixth Street Theatre and continues Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 22. Tickets are available at www.sixthstreetmelodrama.com or by calling the theater at (208) 752-8871.

    With hands on the table and spirits in the air, cast members rehearse the séance scene that unleashes the chaos of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit at Sixth Street Theatre.