Editing Blithe Spirit (play) (section)

==Later productions==
===Britain===
In July 1970 the play was revived in the West End at the [[Gielgud Theatre|Globe Theatre]], starring [[Patrick Cargill]] as Charles, [[Phyllis Calvert]] as Ruth, Amanda Reiss as Elvira and [[Beryl Reid]] as Madame Arcati; it ran until January 1971.<ref>"Theatres", ''The Times'', 23 July 1970; and 14 January 1971, p. 10</ref> It was revived by [[Royal National Theatre|the National Theatre]] in 1976 in a production directed by [[Harold Pinter]], starring [[Richard Johnson (actor)|Richard Johnson]] as Charles, [[Rowena Cooper]] as Ruth, [[Maria Aitken]] as Elvira and [[Elizabeth Spriggs]] as Madame Arcati.<ref name=mb1/> Another London revival played in 1986 at the [[Vaudeville Theatre]], starring [[Simon Cadell]] as Charles, [[Jane Asher]] as Ruth, [[Joanna Lumley]] as Elvira and [[Marcia Warren]] as Madame Arcati.<ref>"Blithe Spirit", ''[[The Guardian]]'', 1 February 1986, p. 12</ref> A 1997 revival at the [[Chichester Festival]], directed by [[Tim Luscombe]], featured [[Steven Pacey]] (Charles), [[Belinda Lang]] (Ruth), [[Twiggy]] (Elvira) and [[Dora Bryan]] as Madame Arcati.<ref>Spencer, Charles. "Comic turns and piquant pleasures", ''The Daily Telegraph'', 19 June 1997, p. 29</ref>

[[File:AngelaLansbury 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Angela Lansbury]] following a performance of the play in 2009]]
The piece was back in the West End at the [[Savoy Theatre]] in 2004, in a production directed by [[Thea Sharrock]], starring [[Aden Gillett]] as Charles, [[Joanna Riding]] as Ruth, [[Amanda Drew]] as Elvira and [[Penelope Keith]] (succeeded by [[Stephanie Cole]]) as Madame Arcati. Matt Wolf wrote in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', "Sharrock and her company land every laugh in a play that induces an indecent amount of pleasure while never letting us forget the extent to which ''Blithe Spirit'' comes marinated in pain."<ref name=Wolf1>Wolf, Matt. [https://variety.com/2004/legit/reviews/blithe-spirit-6-1200529325 "''Blithe Spirit''"], ''Variety'', 28 November 20014. Retrieved 3 March 2021</ref>

Sharrock directed a revival of her production of the play, which started as a UK tour<ref>[http://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/news/06-2010/steadman-spirit-confirms-west-end-and-tour-dates_12849.html "Steadman ''Spirit'' Confirms West End & Tour Dates"], ''What'sOnStage'', 30 June 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2014</ref> and then moved to the [[Apollo Theatre]], London. It ran there from March to June 2011, with a cast including [[Robert Bathurst]] as Charles, [[Hermione Norris]] as Ruth, [[Ruthie Henshall]] as Elvira and [[Alison Steadman]] as Madame Arcati.<ref>[[Michael Billington (critic)|Billington, Michael]]. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/mar/10/bilthe-spirit-review?INTCMP=SRCH "Blithe Spirit: review"], ''The Guardian'', 10 March 2011</ref>

A West End production, directed by [[Michael Blakemore]], opened at the [[Gielgud Theatre]] in March 2014, with [[Charles Edwards (English actor)|Charles Edwards]] as Charles, [[Janie Dee]] as Ruth, [[Jemima Rooper]] as Elvira, [[Angela Lansbury]] as Madame Arcati, and Jones as Dr Bradman as in Blakemore's 2009 Broadway production. It ran until June.<ref>Billington, Michael. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/mar/18/blithe-spirit-review-fine-noel-coward-revival "Blithe Spirit review: The play's the thing in a fine Noël Coward revival"], ''The Guardian'', 18 March 2014</ref>

A revival at the [[Theatre Royal Bath]] in 2019 was followed by a UK tour and a West End run at the [[Duke of York's Theatre]] that opened in March 2020. After 12 performances, it was interrupted due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]. The production starred [[Jennifer Saunders]] as Madame Arcati and [[Richard Eyre]] directed. [[Geoffrey Streatfeild]] and [[Lisa Dillon]] played Charles and Ruth Condomine, [[Simon Coates (actor)|Simon Coates]] and [[Lucy Robinson (actress)|Lucy Robinson]] were Dr and Mrs Bradman, [[Emma Naomi]] played Elvira and Rose Wardlaw was Edith. Design was by [[Anthony Ward]], lighting by Howard Harrison, sound by John Leonard and illusions by [[Paul Kieve]].<ref>Swain, Marianka. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Review-BLITHE-SPIRIT-Duke-of-Yorks-Theatre-20200311 "BWW Review: ''Blithe Spirit'', Duke of York's Theatre"], BroadwayWorld.com, 11 March 11, 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2021</ref><ref>[https://www.bestoftheatre.co.uk/blog/post/jennifer-saunders-blithe-spirit "Jennifer Saunders returns to ''Blithe Spirit'' in West End from 16 September"], Bestoftheatre.co.uk, 29 May 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021</ref>

The Eyre production returned to the West End for a limited run from September to November 2021 at the [[Harold Pinter Theatre]] with the same cast and crew, except that [[Madeleine Mantock]] played Elvira.<ref>Purves, Libby. [https://britishtheatre.com/review-blithe-spirit-harold-pinter-theatre "Review: ''Blithe Spirit'', Harold Pinter Theatre London"], BritishTheatre.com, 23 September 2021</ref>

====London casts, 1970 to 2019====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: left; margin-right: 0;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Roles'''
| '''1970'''
| '''1976'''
| '''1986'''
| '''2004'''
| '''2011'''
| '''2014'''
| '''2019'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
| '''[[Gielgud Theatre|Globe]]'''
| '''[[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] '''
| '''[[Vaudeville Theatre|Vaudeville]]'''
| '''[[Savoy Theatre|Savoy]]'''
| '''[[Apollo Theatre|Apollo]]'''
| '''[[Gielgud Theatre|Gielgud]]'''
| '''[[Harold Pinter Theatre|Harold Pinter]]'''
|-
| Charles
| [[Patrick Cargill]]
| [[Richard Johnson (actor)|Richard Johnson]]
| [[Simon Cadell]]
| [[Aden Gillett]]
| [[Robert Bathurst]]
| [[Charles Edwards (actor)|Charles Edwards]]
| [[Geoffrey Streatfeild]]
|-
| Ruth
| [[Phyllis Calvert]]
| [[Rowena Cooper]]
| [[Jane Asher]]
| [[Joanna Riding]]
| [[Hermione Norris]]
| [[Janie Dee]]
| [[Lisa Dillon]]
|-
| Elvira
| Amanda Reiss
| [[Maria Aitken]]
| [[Joanna Lumley]]
| [[Amanda Drew]]
| [[Ruthie Henshall]]
| [[Jemima Rooper]]
| [[Emma Naomi]]
|-
| Madame Arcati
| [[Beryl Reid]]
| [[Elizabeth Spriggs]]
| [[Marcia Warren]]
| [[Penelope Keith]]
| [[Alison Steadman]]
| [[Angela Lansbury]]
| [[Jennifer Saunders]]
|-
| Dr Bradman
| John Hart Dyke
| [[Geoffrey Chater]]
| Roger Hume
| Derek Hutchinson
| [[Bo Poraj]]
| [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]]
| [[Simon Coates (actor)|Simon Coates]]
|-
| Mrs Bradman
| Daphne Newton
| [[Joan Hickson]]
| Eira Griffiths
| Barbara Kirby
| Charlotte Thornton
| Sandra Shipley
| [[Lucy Robinson (actress)|Lucy Robinson]]
|-
| Edith
| Sylvia Brayshay
| Susan Williamson
| Lynette McMarrough
| [[Michelle Terry]]
| Jodie Taibi
| Susan Louise O'Connor
| Rose Wardlaw
|}

===America===
The [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] premiere was on 5 November 1941 at the [[Morosco Theatre]], presented by Coward's American producer, [[John C. Wilson]], with designs by Stewart Chaney. The play transferred to the [[Booth Theatre]] on 18 May 1942; it ran for a total of 657 performances.<ref>Gaye, p. 1543</ref> The play won the [[New York Drama Critics' Circle|New York Drama Critics' Circle Award]] for Best Foreign Play for the 1941–1942 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Past Winners |url=https://www.dramacritics.org/dc_pastawards.html |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=New York Drama Critics' Circle}}</ref> After closing at the Booth on 5 June 1943, a return engagement played 32 performances from 6 September to 2 October 1943 at the Morosco. [[Haila Stoddard]] took over as Elvira.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blithe Spirit – Broadway Play – Original {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/blithe-spirit-13286 |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> While the first Broadway production was still running, Wilson mounted another in [[Chicago]]. It opened on 17 February 1942 at the [[Harris and Selwyn Theaters|Selwyn Theater]].<ref>"Coward Play Recalls First Nights of Old", ''Chicago Daily Tribune'', 19 February 1942, p. 17</ref>

''Blithe Spirit'' was revived on Broadway at the [[Neil Simon Theatre]] on 31 March 1987 in a production directed by [[Brian Murray (actor)|Brian Murray]]. It starred [[Richard Chamberlain]] as Charles, [[Judith Ivey]] as Ruth, [[Blythe Danner]] as Elvira and [[Geraldine Page]] as Madame Arcati. It ran for 104 performances. Page, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress, died of a heart attack during the run;<ref>"Geraldine Page Is Dead", ''The New York Times'', 15 June 1987, p. A1</ref> [[Patricia Conolly]] succeeded her in the role.<ref>Kolbert, Elizabeth. [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/15/obituaries/geraldine-page-62-dies-a-star-of-stage-and-film.html?scp=3&sq=patricia%20conolly,%20blithe%20spirit&st=cse "Geraldine Page, 62, Dies; A Star of Stage and Film"]. ''The New York Times'', 15 June 1987, retrieved 2 August 2010 {{subscription}}</ref>

A Broadway revival played in 2009 at the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theatre]].<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123005.html "Simon Jones Joins Cast of Blithe Spirit; Revival to Play the Shubert"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107070040/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123005.html |date=7 November 2008 }}, playbill.com, 4 November 2008</ref>  Blakemore directed, with [[Rupert Everett]] as Charles, [[Jayne Atkinson]] as Ruth, [[Christine Ebersole]] as Elvira, [[Angela Lansbury]] as Madame Arcati and [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]] as Dr Bradman.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123437.html "Atkinson Joins Starry Cast of Broadway's Blithe Spirit Revival"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107141019/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/123437.html |date=7 January 2009 }}, playbill.com, 17 November 2008</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' found the revival somewhat uneven, calling the opening performance "bumpy", but praised Lansbury's performance.{{#tag:ref|The production won several awards. Lansbury won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress.<ref>[http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html "Who's Nominated?"] TonyAwards.com, retrieved 11 May 2009</ref> The play won the [[Drama League Award]] for Distinguished Revival of a Play<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129267-Billy_Carnage_Hair_Blithe_and_Rush_Win_Drama_League_Awards "Billy, Carnage, Hair, Blithe and Rush Win Drama League Awards"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518073846/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129267-Billy_Carnage_Hair_Blithe_and_Rush_Win_Drama_League_Awards |date=18 May 2009 }}, playbill.com, 15 May 2009</ref>|group= n}} 

A revival, directed by Blakemore with most of the West End cast (including Lansbury at age 89) except [[Charlotte Parry]] as Ruth, toured North America from December 2014 to March 2015, visiting [[Los Angeles]], [[San Francisco]], [[Toronto]] and Washington D.C.<ref>McNulty, Charles. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-blithe-spirit-ahmason-theatre-angela-lansbury-review-20141216-column.html "Angela Lansbury keeps spirits high in ''Blithe Spirit''"], ''Los Angeles Times'', 15 December 2014</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/angela-lansbury-will-star-in-north-american-tour-of-blithe-spirit-itinerary-and-cast-announced-330645 "Angela Lansbury Will Star in North American Tour of Blithe Spirit; Itinerary and Cast Announced"], ''Playbill'', 16 September 2014</ref>

====American casts, 1941 to 2011====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: left; margin-right: 0;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Roles'''</p>
| '''1941'''</p>
| '''1942'''</p>
| '''1987'''</p>
| '''2009'''</p>
| '''2011'''</p>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|
| '''[[Morosco Theatre|Morosco]]'''</p>
| '''[[Harris and Selwyn Theaters|Selwyn]]'''</p>
| '''[[Neil Simon Theatre|Neil Simon]]'''</p>
| '''[[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert]]'''</p>
| On tour</p>
|-
| Charles
| [[Clifton Webb]]
| [[Dennis King (actor)|Dennis King]]
| [[Richard Chamberlain]]
| [[Rupert Everett]]
| [[Charles Edwards (actor)|Charles Edwards]]
|-
| Ruth
| [[Peggy Wood]]
| [[Carol Goodner]]
| [[Judith Ivey]]
| [[Jayne Atkinson]]
| [[Charlotte Perry]]
|-
| Elvira
| [[Leonora Corbett]]

|[[Annabella (actress)|Annabella]]
| [[Blythe Danner]]
| [[Christine Ebersole]]
| [[Jemima Rooper]]
|-
| Madame Arcati
| [[Mildred Natwick]]
| [[Estelle Winwood]]
| [[Geraldine Page]]
| [[Angela Lansbury]]
| [[Angela Lansbury]]
|-
| Dr Bradman
| [[Philip Tonge]]
|[[Lowell Gilmore]]
| [[William LeMassena]]
| [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]]
| [[Simon Jones (actor)|Simon Jones]]
|-
| Mrs Bradman
|Phyllis Joyce
| Valerie Cossart
| [[Patricia Conolly]]
| [[Deborah Rush]]
| Sandra Shipley
|-
| Edith
| [[Doreen Lang]]
|Belle Gardner
| [[Nicola Cavendish]]
| Susan Louise O'Connor
| Susan Louise O'Connor
|}

===Australia===
A production at the [[Comedy Theatre, Melbourne]] in April 1945 starred [[Edwin Styles]] as Charles, [[Aileen Britton]] as Ruth, [[Bettina Welch]] as Elvira and Letty Craydon as Madame Arcati.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1094777 "Noel Coward's Reckless Comedy"], ''The Argus'', 16 May 1945, p. 7</ref> In 2003 [[Roger Hodgman]] directed a production by the [[Melbourne Theatre Company]], with [[Miriam Margolyes]] as Arcati.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-11-30 |title=Blithe Spirit |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/blithe-spirit-20031130-gdwu8v.html |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=The Age}}</ref> It later played the [[Sydney Opera House]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-01-02 |title=Miriam's no coward |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/miriams-no-coward-20040102-gdi36i.html |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

===France===
A French translation, ''Jeux d'esprits'', was presented at the [[Théâtre de la Madeleine]], Paris, in November 1946, directed by [[Pierre Dux]], with [[Robert Murzeau]] as Charles, [[Renée Devillers]] as Suzanne (Ruth), [[Simone Renant]] as Elvire (Elvira) and [[Jeanne Fusier-Gir]] as Madame Arcati.<ref>[http://www.regietheatrale.com/index/index/base_donnees/dossiers/rep.php?id=663&titre=JEUX%20D "Jeux d'esprits"], Association de la Régie Théâtrale. Retrieved 2 November 2022</ref> In ''[[Le Figaro]]'' [[Jean-Jacques Gautier]] acknowledged Coward as a master of comic absurdity but found the piece "thin, thin, thin" – the champagne a little lacking in sparkle.<ref>Gautier, Jean-Jacques. [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bd6t5645654/f3 "Jeux d'esprits"], ''Le Figaro'', 10 November 1946, p.  3</ref>