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''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. Martin and Gray adhered closely to Coward's original text, although they expanded the medium's character to make it the star role. The playwright was delighted with their adaptation, then entitled ''Faster Than Sound'', and agreed to direct it himself. The cast included Edward Woodward as Charles, Tammy Grimes as Elvira, Louise Troy as Ruth, and Beatrice Lillie as Madame Arcati. ==Productions== Originally, Coward hoped 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. The musical opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on April 7, 1964, and closed on February 27, 1965, after 375 performances and fourteen previews. Gower Champion aided Coward in directing the musical.〔Payn, p. 174 and Mordden, p. 39.〕 Christopher Walken, billed as "Ronnie Walken" was in the chorus. Scenic and costumes design were by Robert Fletcher, lighting design was by Jules Fisher and Tammy Grimes costume was by Valentina. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards but did not 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. An original cast recording of the Broadway cast was released on the ABC Paramount label and the subsequent CD 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.〔("London production" ), musical-theatre.net〕 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".〔Reissued on LP on DRG SL 5180 in 1978〕In 1964, Courtneidge accepted the role of Madame Arcati in the London production of ''High Spirits''. This was an unhappy episode in her career. Coward himself co-directed, and the two clashed constantly in rehearsal. 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. I'd have to be starving, I really would."〔Castle, p. 247〕 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."〔Coward, p. 579〕 The notices for the piece were dreadful, and those for Courtneidge's performance scarcely better: ''The Guardian'' wrote of "a woeful excess of underplay",〔Nightingale, Benedict. "High Spirits", ''The Guardian'', 21 October 1964, p. 9〕 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."〔Gilliatt, Penelope. "Back to the big stuff", ''The Observer'', 8 November 1964, p. 25〕 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco, California presented a staged concert version of the musical in March and April 2009.〔("2008-09 Season" ), 42ndstmoon.com〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「High Spirits (musical)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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