High Spirits (musical)

:For other works with the same or a similar title, see High Spirits (disambiguation)

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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.

Related Topics:
Broadway - Hugh Martin - Timothy Gray - Blithe Spirit - Noel Coward - New York - Alvin Theater - April 7 - 1964 - Beatrice Lillie - Tammy Grimes - Edward Woodward - Louise Troy - London - West End

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Like the Coward play on which it is based, the musical deals in whimsical and light-hearted fashion with Charles Condomine, an English writer whose affections are claimed by both his level-headed second wife, Ruth, and his first wife, Elvira--a ghost called up in a seance by the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati. Farcical complications ensue, especially as the spectral Elvira is visible to Charles, but not to Ruth.

Related Topics:
Seance - Medium

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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).

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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.

Related Topics:
Hello, Dolly - Funny Girl - Fiddler on the Roof

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