Editing Blithe Spirit (play) (section)

===Original cast===
* Charles Condomine – [[Cecil Parker]]{{refn|Parker was replaced by [[Nicholas Phipps]] from June 1944; [[Alan Webb (actor)|Alan Webb]] from November 1945. Holiday cover by Noël Coward, August 1942; [[Ronald Squire]], January 1943; [[Dennis Price]], August 1943; Nicholas Phipps, November 1943.<ref name=mm367/>|group=n}}
* Ruth – [[Fay Compton]]{{refn|Compton was replaced by [[Irene Browne]] from October 1942; [[Joyce Carey]] from June 1944. Holiday cover by Joyce Carey, November 1943.<ref name=mm367/>|group=n}}
* Elvira – [[Kay Hammond]]{{refn|Hammond was replaced by [[Judy Campbell]] from July 1943; [[Penelope Dudley Ward]] from June 1944. Holiday cover by [[Betty Ann Davies]], December 1943.<ref name=mm367/>|group=n}}
* Madame Arcati – [[Margaret Rutherford]]{{refn|Rutherford was replaced by [[Agnes Lauchlan]] from December 1942; [[Beryl Measor]] from August 1943; [[Irene Browne]] from April 1945; [[Joyce Barbour]] from September 1945. Holiday cover by Ella Milne, November 1943.<ref name=mm367/>|group=n}}
* Dr Bradman – [[Martin Lewis (English actor)|Martin Lewis]] 
* Mrs Bradman – [[Moya Nugent]] 
* Edith, a maid – [[Ruth Reeves]]{{refn|Replaced by [[Julia Lang (actress)|Julia Lang]].<ref name=mm367/>|group=n}}
::Source: Mander and Mitchenson.<ref name=mm367>Mander and Mitchenson, pp. 367 and 374−375</ref>

There were several changes of cast during the run; all but two of the roles were played by different performers at one time or another. Only [[Martin Lewis (English actor)|Martin Lewis]] and [[Moya Nugent]] stayed from the first night to the last. [[Irene Browne]] played two different characters during the run. After playing the steely Ruth from 1942 to 1944 she appeared for six months in 1945 as the ebullient Madame Arcati. As well as changes in the regular principals, other actors − including Coward − appeared for short spells of two or more weeks to allow the regulars to take a holiday.<ref name=mm374/>

While the play continued its London run several tours were organised. A company under the management of [[Ronald Squire]] began a British tour in February 1942. The cast included Squire (Charles), Browne (Ruth), [[Ursula Jeans]] (Elvira), and Agnes Lauchlan (Madame Arcati). A company headed by Coward presented the piece along with ''[[Present Laughter]]'' and ''[[This Happy Breed]]'' under the collective title of ''Play Parade'', in a 25-week tour from September 1942. Coward played Charles; [[Joyce Carey]], Ruth; [[Judy Campbell]], Elvira; and [[Beryl Measor]], Madame Arcati. Another tour went out in 1943, headed by [[John Wentworth (actor)|John Wentworth]] as Charles and [[Mona Washbourne]] as Madame Arcati.<ref name=mm374>Mander and Mitchenson, pp. 374−375</ref>

From February 1944 an [[Entertainments National Service Association|ENSA]] company toured the Middle East and continental Europe with ''Blithe Spirit''. [[Emlyn Williams]] played Charles; Jessie Evans and [[Elliott Mason]] shared the role of Madame Arcati, [[Adrianne Allen]] played Ruth; and [[Lueen MacGrath]], Elvira. From October 1945 to February 1946 another ENSA company played ''Blithe Spirit'' (and ''[[Hamlet]]'') in India and Burma for the armed forces. [[John Gielgud]] played Charles; Irene Browne, Madame Arcati; Marian Spencer, Ruth; and [[Hazel Terry]], Elvira.<ref name=mm374/>