In “Blithe Spirit” at the Ahmanson, Angela Lansbury portrays the loopy medium Madame Arcati, whose attempt to communicate with the dead unleashes comic mayhem. This revival of Noel Coward’s play has been seen in New York and London. Lansbury won a Tony for her performance. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Charles Edwards portrays a novelist who holds a seance as a lark and ends up with the ghost of his deceased first wife, portrayed by Jemima Rooper, sharing the house with wife No. 2. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
The otherworldly goings-on get stranger and stranger, as even the ghost portrayed by Jemima Rooper comes to realize. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Angela Lansbury’s Madame Arcati, center, agrees to serve as a medium at a seance. Charles Edwards, left, and Charlotte Parry portray the event’s hosts; Sandra Shipley and Simon Jones, the guests. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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In Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit,” Charles Edwards’ posh novelist isn’t entirely sure he’s happy to see his deceased first wife, played by Jemima Rooper, again. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Charles Edwards’ novelist finds himself with two wives on hand: a pranksterish deceased one, played by Jemima Rooper, left, and a deeply unhappy live one, portrayed by Charlotte Parry. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Jemima Rooper’s ghostly Elvira is determined to win back her man, played by Charles Edwards, in the revival of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at the Ahmanson Theatre. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Angela Lansbury’s Madame Arcati tries to communicate with the spirit world. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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This medium business is tricky stuff in “Blithe Spirit” with, from left, Jemima Rooper, Charlotte Parry, Angela Lansbury and Charles Edwards. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Angela Lansbury has a hypnotizing effect on Susan Louise O’Connor, playing a servant, in the revival of “Blithe Spirit” at the Ahmanson Theatre. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Angela Lansbury, from left, and Susan Louise O’Connor face a ghostly Jemima Rooper in “Blithe Spirit,” which continues at the Ahmanson Theatre through Jan. 18. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
