A deep desire to believe the impossible makes facts irrelevant.

While this may be commonplace knowledge among working politicians and preachers, it is an entirely different story when it involves “The Spiritualist,” who speaks to the dearly departed and cons people who love them.

“The Spiritualist,” written and directed by Ara Barlieb and presented by the Crowded Kitchen Players through June 19, Charles A. Brown IceHouse, Bethlehem, explores the deep desire to communicate with the souls consigned to the nether world.

The play is set in London during the World War I and Spanish flu pandemic era when sudden death, either on the battlefields of Belgium or in the home-front sick beds, prompted a resurgence of the popularity of séances and spiritualism.

Trish Cipoletti (Gwendoline) is stellar as she plays a skeptic in a story of loss and anguish.

Gwendoline’s scientific background makes her want to protect her widowed brother-in-law, Col. Sebastian Lloyd (David Oswald), from fraudster psychics as he seeks to communicate with his wife and children who perished with the flu.

Oswald is fascinating as he transforms from hard-nosed and skeptical battlefield veteran to a man convinced that he is truly communicating with his lost family.

Pamela McLean Wallace (Madame Crispin) is charmingly believable as the host of séances where tables move by themselves and spirits flit around the room.

Madam Tasaya (Sharon Ferry) owns the salon where the renowned spiritualist is key to the séance experiences as she swoons, leaves the room and otherwise fishes for secret information about the dearly deceased.

Ferry brings comedic timing to her table as she works her cons on the seekers. Or does she successfully communicate with the dead and bring solace to the bereaved?

Colleen Pepper (Collette) is endearing as a young mother who seeks to communicate with her deceased child.

Dawn Daignault brings to life two characters who lend texture to the story: Harriet, sister of a soldier killed in action shortly after she last saw him, and debunker Charlotte Webster, who represents a grieving family told by a psychic that their dead son died of suicide rather than face the enemy.

Bruce F. Brown (Inspector Gregson) is perfect as he investigates the allegations that fraud is afoot.

Carla Thew and Donald M. Swan, Jr. shine as the Grandmother and Grandfather of Drexel, who died in the trenches.

Jerry Brucker (Douglas), Brian Wendt (Peter), Michael Sheridan (Col. Boyle) and Sandy Repash bring their talents in supporting roles to a gripping story of love, loss and desperate hope.

Set design by Ara Barlieb is effective in creating gloomy London parlors complete with spirits and things that go bump in the night. Pamela McLean Wallace and Barlieb get credit for set construction. Barlieb is credited with the effective light and sound design.

Tickets: www.ckplayers.com ; 610-704-6974