![]() ![]() She tries to convince Charles to forget everything and follow her, as she describes her astral activities. Charles agrees to take Elvira to the Penthouse Club for old times’ sake. While Ruth and Madame Arcati are having their difficulties, Charles and Elvira reminisce about their marriage. Madame Arcati has bungled the job she doesn’t know how to do it. Ruth goes to Madame Arcati’s coffee shop, where she is surrounded by her student spiritualists, to plead with her to get rid of Elvira. ![]() The next morning at breakfast, Ruth feels that Charles’ unusual behavior was due to the effects of alcohol, but when Elvira shoves a bowl of flowers in her face, Ruth believes. Ruth storms out of the room, leaving Charles with Elvira. He even tries to introduce her to Ruth, who is upset, thinking her husband has gone slightly daffy. Charles sees Elvira and has a lengthy conversation with her. Unexpectedly, Elvira, clad in a greenish cloud-like garment, flies across the room, unseen by the guests. The spirit is Charles’ late wife, Elvira, whose voice is audible only to Charles. After dinner Madame Arcati breezes in on her bicycle, explains the details of the forthcoming séance, and begins the session to communicate with a spirit in the unknown. They are preparing to entertain at dinner, and Madame Arcati is expected later to conduct one of her famous séances. Hampstead Heath, in the north of London, claims as two of its more distinguished residents the best-selling author of mystery novels, Charles Condomine, and his second wife, Ruth. I'd have to be starving, I really would." After the opening night, Coward wrote in his diary, "Cis also got some well-deserved cracks for vulgarizing Madame Arcati, and serve her bloody well right." The notices for the piece were dreadful, and those for Courtneidge's performance scarcely better: The Guardian wrote of "a woeful excess of underplay", and The Observer commented, "The sight of Cicely Courtneidge hamming it until she drops in purple harem knickers with diamanté cycle clips isn't honestly hilarious enough to carry the evening." Ĥ2nd Street Moon in San Francisco, California presented a staged concert version of the musical in August, 1997 and in March and April 2009. Courtneidge later said, "Everyone does adore him – me included – but he's hell to work with, and I never want to do anything else with him. Coward himself co-directed, and the two clashed constantly in rehearsal. This was an unhappy episode in her career. Cicely Courtneidge accepted the role of Madame Arcati. A London cast album was released by Pye Records, for whom Coward himself also recorded four numbers from the show: "Something Tells Me", "If I Gave You", "Forever and a Day", and "Home Sweet Heaven". Ĭoward also directed the West End production, which opened in November 1964 at the Savoy Theatre, where it ran for 93 performances. Īn original cast recording of the Broadway cast was released on the ABC-Paramount label and the subsequent CD by MCA. Coward's dream cast failed to materialize, but he continued with the project. ![]() Originally, Coward had mentally cast Keith Michell as Charles, Gwen Verdon as Elvira, Celeste Holm as Ruth, and Kay Thompson as Madame Arcati, with Bob Fosse as director. Other major musical nominees that same year (1964) were Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly! and most major Tony wins went to the latter. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards, but did not win any. Fred Werner was music director, scenic and costumes design were by Robert Fletcher, lighting design was by Jules Fisher, and Tammy Grimes' costume was by Valentina. Gower Champion aided Coward in directing the musical. The musical opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on April 7, 1964, and closed on February 27, 1965, after 375 performances and 14 previews. The playwright was delighted with their adaptation, then entitled Faster Than Sound, and agreed to direct it himself. Martin and Gray adhered closely to Coward's original text, although they expanded the medium's character to make it the star role. High Spirits is a musical with a book, lyrics, and music by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, based on the play Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward, about a man's problems caused by the spirit of his dead wife. ![]()
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