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For other uses, see Blithe Spirit (disambiguation).

Blithe Spirit (1941) is a comic play written by Noel Coward which takes its title from Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem To a Skylark. Sir Noël Peirce Coward ( 16 December 1899 26 March 1973) was an English Actor, Playwright Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4 1792 – July 8 1822 ˈpɝːsɪ ˈbɪʃ ˈʃɛlɪ was one of the major English Romantic poets and is widely considered to be among Percy Bysshe Shelley completed the Poem entitled " To a Skylark " in late June 1820 The action of the play centres on socialite Charles Condomine being haunted by the ghost of his first wife Elvira following a séance, and Elvira's continued (and increasingly desperate) efforts to disrupt Charles' current marriage. The play is notable for the comic character of Madame Arcati, the eccentric medium.

The play provoked a small outcry at the time of its first performances, as it was seen to be possibly making fun of death at the height of World War II; however, such objections were quickly forgotten and the play went on to set all manner of British box-office records. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Its mark of 1,997 consecutive performances for non-musical plays in the West End was only eventually beaten by Boeing Boeing in the 1970s. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland"

In his autobiography Coward claimed he wrote the play in five days during a holiday he took with actress Joyce Carey to Portmeirion on the coast of Snowdonia in Wales. Joyce Carey (born Joyce Lawrence March 30, 1898 in London; died February 28, 1993 in London was a British Portmeirion is an Italianate resort Village in Gwynedd, on the coast of Snowdonia in Wales. Snowdonia (Eryri is a region of North Wales and a National park of in area He wrote it straight through from beginning to end whilst staying at the Fountain 2 (Upper Fountain) suite at Portmeirion and only two lines of dialogue were removed before its first production in London.

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London productions

At the first production (Savoy Theatre, London, 1941), directed by Coward himself, the main cast members were:

The play is much revived by amateur companies but has had fewer West End productions than might be expected since the original record-breaking run. The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London England London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Kay Hammond was a stage and film actress She was born in London on 18 February 1909, the daughter of Sir Guy Standing. Dame Margaret Rutherford DBE ( May 11, 1892 &ndash May 22, 1972) was an Academy Award -winning English Cecil Parker (3 September 1897 &ndash 20 April 1971 was an English character and comedy actor with a distinctive husky voice who usually played supporting roles in his 91 films made Fay Compton ( September 18, 1894 in West Kensington London &ndash December 12, 1978) was an English actress from a notable Modern West End revivals include:

Globe (now Gielgud) Theatre (1970)

National Theatre (1976)

Vaudeville Theatre (1986)

Savoy Theatre (2004)

Broadway productions

The Broadway premiere took place on November 5, 1941 at the Morosco Theatre in a production staged by John C. Beryl Elizabeth Reid OBE ( June 17 1919 – October 13 1996) was a British Actress of stage and screen Patrick Cargill ( 3 June, 1918 &ndash 23 May, 1996) was a British Actor known for his role on the British television Phyllis Calvert ( February 18, 1915 - October 8, 2002) was an English film stage and television actress. Maria Aitken (born 12 September 1945) is a British actress and director Elizabeth Spriggs ( September 18, 1929 &ndash July 2 2008) was an Olivier Award -winning and BAFTA Award -nominated Richard Johnson may refer to Richard Mentor Johnson, 19th century United States politician and Vice President Richard Johnson (16th century For the sixteenth century translator see Jane Lumley. Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE (born 1 May 1946) is an English Simon John Cadell ( July 19 1950 – March 6 1996) was an English actor Jane Asher (born 5 April 1946) is an English actress, who is well known in the United Kingdom for her Television career Thea Sharrock (born 1976 is an award-winning English Theatre director. Amanda Drew (born 21 December 1969) is an English actress. Drew is best known for her role as the Psychotic Dr Penelope Anne Constance Keith, CBE, DL (born Penelope Hatfield on 2 April 1940 is an English actress well known in the Stephanie Cole, OBE (born October 5, 1941) is an English actress, best known for playing characters a great deal older than her Aden Gillett (born 8 November, 1958) is a British actor known for playing the role of Jack Maddox on the popular BBC series The House of Eliott Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Morosco Theatre was a legitimate theatre located at 217 West 45th Street in the heart of the theater district in midtown- Manhattan, New York United States Wilson and designed by Stewart Chaney. In the cast were Leonora Corbett as Elvira, Mildred Natwick as Madame Arcati, Clifton Webb as Charles and Peggy Wood as Ruth. Mildred Natwick ( June 19, 1905 – October 25, 1994) was an American stage and film actress for the New Zealand politician see Thomas Clifton Webb Clifton Webb ( November 19, 1889 – October 13, Peggy Wood ( February 9, 1892 - March 18, 1978) born Mary Margaret Wood, was an Academy Award nominated American The play transferred to the Booth Theatre on May 18, 1942 and it ran for a total of 657 performances. The Booth Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in midtown- Manhattan, New York City

It was revived at the Neil Simon Theatre on March 31, 1987 in a production directed by Brian Murray, designed by Finlay James and with costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge. The Neil Simon Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 250 West 52nd Street in midtown- Manhattan. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Brian Murray (born September 10 1937) is a South African Actor and Theatre director. Theoni V Aldredge (b August 22, 1932) is a Greek Costume designer for stage, and Screen productions It starred Richard Chamberlain as Charles, Blythe Danner as Elvira, Judith Ivey as Ruth and Geraldine Page, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress, as Madame Arcati. Blythe Katharine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American Emmy - and Tony Award -winning actress. Judith Lee Ivey (born September 4, 1951) is an American Actress and director. Geraldine Sue Page ( November 22, 1924 – June 13, 1987) was an American actress The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented It ran for 104 performances.

Other U. S revivals

At the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor in 2002 the play was revived with Twiggy as Elvira, Dana Ivey as Madame Arcati, Patricia Kalember as Ruth, and Daniel Gerroll, who also directed, as Charles

High Spirits

The play was adapted into a musical, High Spirits, in 1964, which had a Broadway run of more than 300 performances, starring Tammy Grimes as Elvira and Beatrice Lillie in an expanded role as Madame Arcati. Twiggy (born Lesley Hornby; 19 September 1949) is an English Supermodel, Actress, and Singer, now also Dana Robins Ivey (born August 14, 1942) is an American Character actress. Patricia Kathryn Kalember (born December 30, 1956) is an American Actress. Daniel Gerroll (born October 16, 1951) is a British Theatre, Television, and Film Actor. High Spirits is a musical with a book lyrics and music by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray based on the play Blithe Spirit by Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Tammy Lee Grimes (born January 30, 1934) is an American award-winning Actress and Singer. The role of Charles Condomine was played by Edward Woodward, with Ruth, Charles' second wife, portrayed by Louise Troy. Noel Coward directed this Broadway production, with book, music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray. The show received multiple Tony Award nominations (seven or eight), but was unable to win any. Other major musical nominees that same year (1964) were Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly! and most major Tony wins went to the latter, including to Carol Channing for her portrayal of Dolly, triumphing over both Miss Lillie and Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl.

Film

Main article: Blithe Spirit (1945 film)

Blithe Spirit was also made into a successful film in 1945, adapted by Coward himself and directed by David Lean:

Elvira: Kay Hammond
Madame Arcati: Margaret Rutherford
Charles: Rex Harrison
Ruth: Constance Cummings

Television and radio

On American television Coward himself starred in a 1956 production with Lauren Bacall as Elvira, Mildred Natwick as Madame Arcati and Claudette Colbert as Ruth. The film Blithe Spirit is a 1945 British comedy film of the popular Noel Coward play Sir David Lean KBE ( 25 March, 1908 &ndash 16 April, 1991) was an English Film director and producer Kay Hammond was a stage and film actress She was born in London on 18 February 1909, the daughter of Sir Guy Standing. Dame Margaret Rutherford DBE ( May 11, 1892 &ndash May 22, 1972) was an Academy Award -winning English Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and Constance Cummings CBE ( May 15 1910 – November 23 2005) was an American -born British actress known for her Mildred Natwick ( June 19, 1905 – October 25, 1994) was an American stage and film actress Claudette Colbert ( IPA: /koʊlˈbɛɹ/ ( September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) was a French -born American stage On UK radio and television, notable portrayals of Madame Arcati have been given by Hattie Jacques (ITV 1964, directed by Joan Kemp-Welch, Joanna Dunham as Elvira, Griffith Jones as Charles and Helen Cherry as Ruth) and Peggy Mount (BBC radio 1983, with Anna Massey as Elvira, Paul Eddington as Charles, and Julia McKenzie as Ruth. Josephine Edwina Jaques ( 7 February 1922 &ndash 6 October 1980) was a well-known English Comedy actress Griffith Jones (born Harold Jones; 19 November 1909 &ndash 30 January 2007) was an English film stage and television Peggy Mount OBE, (2 May 1915 - 13 November 2001 born Margaret Rose Mount, was an English actress of stage and screen Anna Raymond Massey, CBE (born 11 August 1937) is a British actress. Paul Eddington CBE ( 18 June 1927 – 4 November 1995) was an English Actor best known for his appearances in Julia McKenzie (born 17 February 1941, Enfield) is an English Actress and Theatre director.

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

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