ON her directorial debut for the Oswaldtwistle Players, Catherine Allan had the hard task of selecting the cast for the next production - Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward.

In the three leading roles of Charles Condomine and his two wives, Elvira and Ruth, are Martin Pugh, Michelle Arthur and Clare Highton. Wendy Duggan will play eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, while Michael Whewell and Gayle Knight will play Dr and Mrs Bradman. The cast is completed by Lesley Jackson as dotty maid Edith.

Blithe Spirit, to be staged at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre in April, is one of Noel Coward's best known plays and will create a challenge for the Oswaldtwistle Players' special effects department..