By Maryann Lopinto***It’s been 60 years since the Broadway musical High Spirits opened at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon). For this 54 Below event, Walter Willison put together a staged reading as a “backers audition” for a potential revival and served as host and in the role as “Charles.” Also appearing in the leads were Christine Andreas, Ann Kittredge and Judy Kaye.
High Spirits is based on Noel Coward’s play Blithe Spirit, with music, lyrics and book by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, originaly starred Tammy Grimes, Bea Lillie, Edward Woodward and Louise Troy. And although many of the hit shows of 1964, such as Hello Dolly, Funny Girl, Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me, have had revivals, there have been none of this show—only a production in London later that debut year and a York Theatre Mufti version (with Tammy Grimes participating in the talk-back).
Also appearing in this 54 Below tribute was a supporting cast of Nicholas B. Cloutier, Jaxon McKay, Zoe Parrish and Sophia Tzougros. A surprise guest, Adrienne Angel, who’d appeared in the original production, appeared and closed the show with “Was She Prettier Than I?” Musical director was Dennis Buck.
