High Spirits (musical)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other works with the same or a similar title, see High Spirits (disambiguation)
| ''High Spirits | ||
| Original Broadway Production | ||
|---|---|---|
| Music | Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray | |
| Lyrics | Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray | |
| Book | Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray | |
| Theatre | Alvin Theater | |
| Opened | April 7, 1967 | |
| Director | Noel Coward | |
| Originally starring | Beatrice Lillie Tammy Grimes Edward Woodward Louise Troy |
|
High Spirits is a Broadway musical with book, music, and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, based on the play Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. The musical opened in New York at the Alvin Theater on April 7, 1964, and played 377 performances. The original Broadway cast starred Beatrice Lillie as Madame Arcati, Tammy Grimes as Elvira, Edward Woodward as Charles Condomine, and Louise Troy as Ruth Condomine. The show has also been produced in London's West End.
The show opens in the Condomines living room as Charles and Ruth are preparing for a seance. Charles, a minor english noble is working on a mystery novel (the Unseen) about a homicidal medium and needs materal. Charles goes upstairs to change for dinner and Ruth sings about weather Charle's first wife (Elvira) was prettier then she was (Was She Prettier Than I?). Dr. and Mrs. Bradman arive and the first scene closes as they leave for dinner.
In scene two, we meet Madme Arcati (the medium) as she bicycles to the Condomines (The Bicycle Song).
Scene three opens with the Charles, Ruth and the Bradmans having coffee in the living room after dinner. Madme Aracti arives and the five of them prepare for the seance. During the seance Madme Arcati determines that "Someone wishes to speak to you, Mr. Condomine". When Charles tells them to leave a message, there is a blackout the table falls over and Madme Arcati falls unconcious. After Madme Arcati leaves, Elvira appears, although no one can see her.
The bubbly, jazz-tinged score includes the following principal songs: "Was She Prettier Than I?" (Ruth); "The Bicycle Song" (Madame Arcati and company); "You'd Better Love Me" (Elvira); "Where Is the Man (Girl) I Married?" (Ruth and Charles); "Go Into Your Trance" (Madame Arcati and company); "Forever and a Day" (Charles and Elvira); "Something Tells Me" (Elvira); "I Know Your Heart" (Charles and Elvira); "Faster Than Sound" (Elvira and company); "If I Gave You" (Charles and Ruth); "Talking To You" (Madame Arcati--singing to her Ouija board); "Home Sweet Heaven" (Elvira); "Something Is Coming To Tea" (Madame Arcati and company); "What in the World Did You Want?" (Charles, Ruth, and Elvira).
The musical was a notable success for veteran comedienne Lillie, who was perfectly in her element as the dotty Madame Arcati. (Coward had written Blithe Spirit with Lillie in mind, but circumstances had prevented her from performing it until the musical version came along.) The show's success was somewhat overshadowed, however, by the fact that the original productions of Hello, Dolly, Funny Girl, and Fiddler on the Roof all opened during the same very busy Broadway year.
