“Time is the reef upon which all our frail mystic ships are wrecked,” utters the bumptious medium Madame Arcati in Noel Coward’s masterpiece Blithe Spirit.

“I long ago came to the conclusion that nothing has ever been definitely proved about anything.”

Coward’s words are wise indeed and lay open the beauty of this tidy tale of summoning the dead. The play’s timing, it was written in the depths of the Second World War – a year after Dunkirk – must have given solace to those grieving lost loved-ones, not only making light of death but in conjuring up a frivolous afterlife where the dead never age. And it did so, through that most British of devices: farcical humour.

Even now, 76 years on, it remains hilarious, but also charmingly restrained – an examination not only of mortality but on relationships – with their illusions and finely-balanced pretence.

Oxford Theatre Guild’s production at the Oxford Playhouse this week is polished and precise. The timing is impeccable and the characterisation spot on.

Paul Clifford is quite wonderful as the wry Charles Condomine – a man trapped between his stultifyingly prim second wife Ruth (played gracefully by, one suspects, the equally well-bred, though rather more humorous, Helen Taylor) and his enchanting, eternally young and beautiful first wife Elvira. His mounting exasperation is brilliantly portrayed.

Cate Nunn is perfect as the slinky Elvira – a languorous seductive spirit, her ethereal ghostliness signified by pretty streaks of face glitter.

How could Charles resist?

Barbara Denton’s self-important, and ever so slightly pompous, Madame Arcati is particularly well observed, and could have been inspired by any number of North Oxford ladies I know – which makes it all the funnier.

Providing less-subtle laughs is Eve Callow-Salt as the sweet servant Edith – her protracted attempt to lay a ruffled table cloth with one hand while balancing a tray of crockery is a particular comedic delight and had the theatre in stitches.

A delightful resurrection of a theatrical classic then.

Very highly recommended indeed.

Tim Hughes 4/5

* Blithe Spirit runs at the Oxford Playhouse until Saturday. Go oxfordplayhouse.com