Written and premiered in the early 1940s while WW2 raged on and the prospect of losing a precious loved one at short notice felt like a very real possibility, Noël Coward’s ghostly comedy is, perhaps not surprisingly, the first of ‘The Master’s plays to be seen in the West End post-pandemic.
The bittersweet unfinished theatre business of Covid
Last week saw Paula Vogel’s Indecent finally open officially at the Menier Chocolate Factory, a year and a half after previews had begun, for the UK premiere of Rebecca Taichman’s Tony-winning original production.
‘This time the thrill was different & unexpected’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★
In Richard Eyre’s briskly directed production Jennifer Saunders stands out. Her Arcati is draggled but not cartoonish: donnishly dishevelled, earnestly scholarly rather than exaggeratedly nuts.
NEWS: Blithe Spirit starring Jennifer Saunders returns to the West End in September 2021
Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Lee Dean and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions have announced the West End return of Noël Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Jennifer Saunders.
From stage to screen (small & big): The adaptations keep on coming
In the last 30 years or more, roughly half of every new musical that arrives on Broadway or in the West End seems to be based on a film.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Blithe Spirit at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the London transfer of Richard Eyre’s production of Noel Coward’s comedy Blithe Spirit.
‘Jennifer Saunders’ performance will not disappoint’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Touring & West End
The psychology of Blithe Spirit snaps convincingly into place in Richard Eyre’s production while at the same time it fully utilises every opportunity to make the audience laugh.
Best of the Blogs: The Sugar Syndrome, Persona, Sold & Blithe Spirit
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 2 February 2020), ranging from Ian Foster’s praise of the Orange Tree Theatre’s fine revival of Lucy Prebble’s first play The Sugar Syndrome.
‘Saunders triumphs in a role she was surely meant to play’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Touring & West End ★★★★
The pace of the cast members’ dialogue and interaction with each other is almost always spot on in Blithe Spirit.
Theatre review of the 2019 & what to see in 2020
With a new year fast approaching, it is an interesting time to reflect on small changes across the theatre landscape in 2019 that will continue to shape how UK theatre will look as it moves into a new decade.
NEWS: UK tour & West End run announced for Blithe Spirit starring Jennifer Saunders
Noël Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Jennifer Saunders, will return next year for a UK tour followed by a strictly limited six-week engagement at the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre following a celebrated reception at the Theatre Royal Bath earlier this summer.
‘A guaranteed crowd pleaser’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Bath ★★★★
It’s is not going to change your life but for a chance to see a national treasure and to wallow away from the pressures of the real world for a couple of hours, Blithe Spirit ticks all the boxes.
‘Saunders is outrageously good but then so are the rest of the cast’: BLITHE SPIRIT – Bath ★★★★
If I could look into Madame Arcati’s crystal ball I think I would see a West End transfer on the cards for Richard Eyre’s playful production of Blithe Spirit.
NEWS: Katherine Parkinson & Vanessa Redgrave join line-up for Theatre Royal Bath’s summer season as new productions are announced
Jonathan Church, artistic director of Theatre Royal Bath’s summer season, has announced further productions and new casting for the 2019 programme. Katherine Parkinson joins Rupert Everett in the cast of Uncle Vanya which he also directs.
Critics’ Circle winners contradict Standard: any bets on Oliviers?
If you read my Best of the Best of #theatre2014 round-ups a few weeks ago, you may have been able to predict most of the winners of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards, announced today at the West End’s Prince of Wales Theatre. That’s with the possible exception of Best Actress, which based on the frequency […]
More Top 10 #theatre2014 lists: Mine and yours
Rounding up the best of the best of theatre 2014 highlights got me reflecting on my own year in theatre. Having unexpectedly left WhatsOnStage just before Christmas 2013, the shape and pace of my 2014 theatregoing was going to be inevitably different from the previous 16 years. For a time, I wasn’t even sure that […]
The best of the best of #theatre2014 round-ups
Can you keep up with all the 2014 theatrical year round-ups? I’ve rounded up the round-ups to give you a quick overview. The Guardian went ALL out looking back with a profusion of top 10 lists from its various critics, including eminence grise Michael Billington, fringe and festival queen Lyn Gardner, columnist Mark Lawson and […]
Review: Blithe Spirit (Richmond Theatre)
There’s a whiff of mothballs at Richmond, and it’s not all coming from the audience in this starry but stolid revival of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit … A glossy 2009 Broadway production showcased Angela Lansbury in cracking and crackpot form as clairvoyant Madam Arcati and Rupert Everett in a role he was born to play, […]
The post Review: Blithe Spirit (Richmond Theatre) appeared first on JohnnyFox.
Review: Blithe Spirit (Richmond Theatre)
There’s a whiff of mothballs at Richmond, and it’s not all coming from the audience in this starry but stolid revival of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit … A glossy 2009 Broadway production showcased Angela Lansbury in cracking and crackpot form as clairvoyant Madam Arcati and Rupert Everett in a role he was born to play, […]
The post Review: Blithe Spirit (Richmond Theatre) appeared first on JohnnyFox.