High Spirits (musical)

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For other works with the same or a similar title, see High Spirits

Original Broadway Production
''High Spirits

Music	Hugh Martin Timothy Gray
Lyrics	Hugh Martin Timothy Gray
Book	Hugh Martin Timothy Gray
Theatre	Alvin Theater
Opened	April 7, 1967
Closed	February 27, 1965
Director	Noel Coward
Choreographer	Danny Daniels
Scenic designer	Robert Fletcher
Costume designer	Robert Fletcher
Lighting designer	Jules Fisher
Originally starring	Tammy Grimes Edward Woodward Louise Troy Beatrice Lillie

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, it centers on writer Charles Condomine, who hosts a séance conducted by medium Madame Acarti in the hope he'll learn her tricks so he can use the information in his new novel. His assumption she's a fake is proven wrong when she falls into a trance and manages to conjure the spirit of his late wife Elvira, although he alone can see her. His present wife Ruth believes Charles is joking until Elvira moves into the Condomine household and proves her presence by performing poltergeist-type pranks. Elvira's plan to kill Charles so he can join her in the beyond backfires when she accidentally disposes of Ruth instead, and before long the two female apparitions are disrupting their former husband's life with their constant nagging and bickering.

Martin and Gray adhered closely to Coward's original script, although they expanded the Arcati character from a supporting role to a lead. The playwright was delighted with their adapatation, then entitled Faster Than Sound, and agreed to direct it, hoping to cast Keith Michell as Charles, Gwen Verdon as Elvira, Celeste Holm as Ruth, and Kay Thompson as Madame Arcati, with Danny Daniels as choreographer. Coward's dream cast failed to materialize, but he continued with the project.

After fourteen previews, the Broadway production opened on April 7, 1964 at the Alvin Theatre, where it ran for 375 performances. The cast included Edward Woodward as Charles, Tammy Grimes as Elvira, Louise Troy as Ruth, and Beatrice Lillie as Madame Arcati. An original cast recording was released by MCA.

Coward also directed the West End production, which opened in November 1964 at the Savoy Theatre, where it ran for 93 performances. The cast included Denis Quilley as Charles, Marti Stevens as Elvira, Jan Waters as Ruth, and Cicely Courtneidge as Madame Arcati [1]. A London cast album was released by Pye Records.