Butler Little Theatre will begin its 75th season with Noel Coward’s classic comedy “Blithe Spirit,” which opens Oct. 2 and features a cast comprised of veterans as well as a few BLT novices.

First produced in 1941, the show was nominated for the Drama Desk’s Best Revival in 2009. BLT also staged the show back in 1989.

The much-revived classic from Coward, the playwright of “Private Lives,” offers up the life and afterlife life of novelist Charles Condomine.

The novelist is remarried but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife. She pairs up with an unlikely partner and the duo haunt the hapless Charles’ quite happily.

Butler’s Dan McCarty is taking on the role of Charles.

The role was originally cast to Bob Meals who fell ill and McCarty stepped in right at press time.

Meals described the role. “The biggest challenge to playing Charles is that he is at the center of the activity and has to react to ghosts and the living so that other actors can have what they need to play off in a scene,” he said.

“Charles is a mystery writer doing research for a new book who invites a psychic to his house to lead a séance where the ghost of Charles’ first wife Elvira is conjured from the ‘other side.’”

His lovely second wife Ruth is being played by Stephanie Kobil of Butler.

“I have good ensemble experience which is needed in this particular show,” Kobil said.

“There is a lot of dialogue and focusing on what the other actors are saying is very important. It’s also a challenge to have a ‘ghost’ on stage with us and not interact with it.”

That spirit “Elvira” is being played by Amy Cannard of Chicora.

“She is the titular ‘blithe spirit’ — the ghost of Charles’ first wife who dies relatively young and whose fun-loving and mischievous nature has not been dampened by her time on the ‘other side,’” Cannard said.

For her, the most challenging part of the role is acting almost alone.

“Being ‘ignored’ by everyone else on stage is interesting. Charles is the only one able to ‘see’ me, so it’s hard not interacting with the other characters — but a little fun, too, doing whatever I like and they can’t react to me,” she said.

Cannard was in the BLT production back in 1989 as the maid, and wanted to be a part of the BLT 75th season opener.

The conduit to the present for her spirit role is the medium Madame Arcati, being portrayed by Bonnie Cahill of Jefferson Township.

Cahill said she adores comedy.

“A good comedy, done well, gives the audience a sense of fellowship with the actors. I love working out the timing and pacing that draws the audience in but never leaves them feeling that they’ve been left behind,” she said.

“I play Madame Arcati, a medium who loves the drama, the mystery, and the atmosphere of séances, but who really isn’t very good,” she added.

Cahill has seen the show performed several times and been in it three times herself.

“I love Noel Coward. His writing is wonderful,” she said.

Cahill will be reprising her role from the 1989 production. She had played the role of the maid in an earlier production when she was 12.

Playing the maid in this production is Lorraine Martin of Butler Township.

“Edith really wants to do a great job for her new employer but can’t shake the feeling that she’s just not getting it quite right,” Martin said.

“She is very quirky and sweet, and I hope that bringing my own humor to her actions will help bring her character to life.”

Martin said she has enjoyed learning about physical comedy in preparing for this production.

“The character does a lot of repetitious things, so it is challenging to make her personality shine through and to make the audience excited to see her every time she comes on stage,” she said.

The show is under the direction of Katie Moore, who said the special effects are the biggest challenge.

“Also, many of us involved in this production have also been doing other productions, so scheduling and shifting gears can be a challenge,” she said.

Moore last directed “Rose’s Dilemma” at the BLT, also a play involving the return of someone who had departed. “This is more subtle humor, which can be a challenge to draw out,” Moore said.

The producer is Becky Plymale. The cast also includes Allison Torres and Dennis Whalen.