BLITHE Spirit is a play full of laughs and love, mischievous ghosts and sparkling wit.

Centre stage is cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine who is researching the occult for his new novel. The sceptical author invites an eccentric clairvoyant, Madame Arcati to his house for an elegant dinner party. While consumed in a trance, she unwittingly conjures up the ghost of Charles’ deceased first wife, the rather naughty Elvira.

Elvira soon upsets his new wife, the straight-laced and super rational Ruth. So, if Charles wants his latest marriage to stand a chance, he has to conjure up a solution - and fast.

The distinguished and well known cast of talented Lakeland actors includes Chris Whiteside as Charles; Sarah Waterhouse is in the guise of his first spouse Elvira with Alison Hine as Charles' second, more earthly partner, Ruth Condomine.

Liz Breaks takes on the role of dotty and over the top medium Madame Arcati; Jim Thompson plays Doctor Bradman; Kate Vernon is Mrs Bradman; and Edith is played by Abbi Lawson.

Under the deft direction of Fliss Pocock, Noel Coward's comedy classic is running at Staveley Roundhouse from Thursday-Saturday, May 4-6 and May 11-13.

Fliss says they've had great fun working on the play: "It was very long (more than three hours) so I have made quite a lot of cuts to ensure that things keep moving along. Its set in the 1930s with some lovely costumes and music of the period."

Performances start at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available at www.staveleyroundhouse.com or telephone 015395-61076.