HIGH SPIRITS at Encores!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 2:25pm

Starts performances tonight!

I'm assuming last night was the invited dress - any buzz?

I'm entirely unfamiliar with the show, but the cast has me intrigued... 

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 4:43pm

Very curious about this one, too!

 

This YT short just popped up on my feed of the invited dress curtain call.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 8:20pm

The original production with Beatrice Lillie and Tammy Grimes was in the same season as Funny Girl and Hello! Dolly!  It was one of the first shows I saw without being taken by my parents.  I saw it because I had seen Lillie on some talk shows, and thought she was hilarious.  I remember the following:  Lillie had one number where the entire cast on stage were on bikes (the bikes did not move beyond whatever the scenic designer came up with; Tammy Grimes did fly; even at 15, I did not think the music was good, and I never bought a cast album, so I have no idea whether this score is going to be praised as a missed classis or serviceable to the story.

I was actually surprised that Encores selected it, since I thought there were a lot of other old musicals from the 60s / early to mid-70s with better scores that I do not think have been done, e.g., The Roar of the Greasepaint; Over Here; Purlie; (don't laugh) Coco!, Hallelujah! Baby!, The Happy Time, Darling of the Day, Half a Sixpence! and even Drat! The Cat!, to name some off the top of my head.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 8:53pm

They sure like holding their scripts in this production. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 8:58pm

I assume you’re commenting on footage from a dress rehearsal, which is, after all, a rehearsal. That said, I’d actually welcome a return at Encores to true concert-style presentations, with scripts in hand. In recent years, the productions have increasingly felt like tryouts for potential Broadway transfers, and I know several actors who’ve declined Encores engagements specifically because of the pressure that creates given the very limited rehearsal time.

[Tenor8674]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 10:04pm

An excellent performance tonight. They do hold scripts and an actor serves as the narrator playing Noel Coward. Elvira even rises a little bit to fly. The full orchestra and vocals were gorgeous.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 10:29pm

Edited: I didn't see the tidbit above from Jarethan.

So glad to hear positive reports from tonight. 

Updated On: 2/4/26 at 10:29 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/4/26 at 11:04pm

This is in my top five musicals I’ve been hoping Encores will do for decades, so I was so thrilled to be there tonight and finally see a production of this musical. I know it’s a far from perfect musical and is real throwback to the 60s but it’s one I really do love. At first, I was a bit taken a back because this is a real throwback to the way Encores is used to be. No real set and everybody holding scripts most of the time - it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen that. And it worked fine - for the most part. The narration of things like “she picks up the phone” seemed very strange to me when they could have just had a phone there. Things like that were odd but minimal. The only time the narration really did a disservice to the show was the last scene, describing everything falling and being thrown. That’s a hilarious moment and it’s really wasted here. 

THAT SAID, everything else is wonderful. The cast is an embarrassment of riches, with MVP going to the always hilarious Andrea Martin giving the most Andrea Martin performance Andrea Martin can possibly give. Lenk and Soo are very well matched and (as always) in glorious voice. I’m more than happy to revisit this before it closes because I unfortunately doubt we’ll see this one mounted again in the next few decades. But I’ve loved this score since I was a kid so hearing it all with this gorgeous orchestra was a real dream come true for me tonight. 

[UWS10023]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 1:16am

I enjoyed the performance and thought it was very well cast. The vocals were splendid. The direction was not too fussy which worked to the shows advantage. I did not mind the book holding but it did bog things down a bit especially for Soo and Martin although both had an endearing presence. Lenk was the standout in my book, a combination of Endora from Bewitched and Glynis Johns. Pasquale had the right amount of silliness with smart timing and impeccable singing. I could understand every word. His singing seemed so effortless. The actors were brisk with the text which was appropriate although some words especially at the end of sentences got thrown away thus killing some of the witty dialogue. Lenk was for the most part off book so her performance was less hindered physically which added to her charisma. Special effects were simple but effective. As with all Encores productions given the short rehearsal period, the quality of the show will only get better as the run progresses. 

[Merkin2]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 6:48am

I’m seeing this on community night Friday the 13th. Can someone tell me what happens, if anything, on that day?  I’m pretty sure when I saw wonderful town it was community night cause there was a dj and people dancing in that area on the second level. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 8:59am

I’m glad I got a subscription because I saw the TDF price and it was the same as the standard Broadway musical - which I never recall being the case before. I’m going to the final show on the 15th

[ER765]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 11:01am

Great TheaterMania review, which calls the production “Encores! at its very best.”

Bizarrely nondescript review in The Wrap, which I guess is mixed to positive? 

Updated On: 2/5/26 at 11:01 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 11:14am

quizking101 said: "I’m glad I got a subscription because I saw the TDF price and it was the same as the standard Broadway musical - which I never recall being the case before. I’m going to the final show on the 15th"

I recall ~$63 being the TDF price for other Encores offerings in the past few years.

Jessica Stone spoke openly in a social feature about leaning into the “concert” element of this one with music stands and binders. Campbell Scott doing the Coward narrator role sounds like ideal casting!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 12:14pm

Okay, so as Broadway savvy as I am I truly never cared to invest time on the original 1964 Broadway production of HIGH SPIRITS. I’m familiar with the original Noel Coward play BLITHE SPIRIT, and for decades have seen those production photos of Tammy Grimes in the show, but I never heard a note from the score nor cared to even take a listen… until now. This current Encores! Concert Series production somehow grabbed my attention and I did a rabbit hole dive into the original 1964 Broadway production. Wow! What I’ve been missing. The synopsis is beyond glorious and the score is quite good - standard 1964 era type of musical theater score. DEATH BECOMES HER is enjoying a nice run so hopefully this “after life” plot line could spark some interest in mounting a full scale Broadway revival of HIGH SPIRITS featuring this Encores! Concert Series cast. Visually, for my taste, this needs a lavish production design. 

THIS is the original 1964 Broadway production:

[Merkin2]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 12:55pm

I emailed city center and asked them what happens on community night. This is what they said. 

“Thank you for contacting us regarding Community night here at New York City Center.  Community night is a pre-show event where it is a first come first serve basis. Usually there is a DJ that will play music, or food and drinks will be served. You do not need to sign up, all you need to bring is your ticket for the ticket scanners to scan. Then all you have to do is enjoy!”

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 10:55pm

ER765 said: "
Bizarrely nondescript review in The Wrap, which I guess is mixed to positive?"

So in other words a very typical Robert Hofler review.

 

[Skip23]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 11:42pm

I have to agree with him.

A sub-par-casting bore.  The music is trance-inducing and I kept hoping for the ghosts of Charles Kimbrough, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury and, well, Tammy Grimes to show up,  Snnnnnnnn.  That Mary woman barely moves a muscle in her conducting, adding an additional level of snooze to the proceedings.   Lenk offers no charisma, Soo talks way too fast, the singing Pasquale sounds eerily like Victor Garber and Andrea Martin is just confused.  

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/5/26 at 11:57pm

Well, I enjoyed it for the most part. It’s the archetypal  Encores! show - creaky and oddball, but endearing nonetheless. As with most Encores! productions, I found the pacing / comedic timing was a bit scattershot and the sound design was wonky (the orchestra sounded somewhat dull and canned). Hopefully they’ll tweak those things as the run continues. Andrea Martin did go up on her lines a couple of times, but that’s the nature of these productions, so I wasn’t bothered. 

The standout performance easily came from Katrina Lenk. What a redemption after getting so much (unwarranted) flack for COMPANY. Funny, regal, and in glorious voice. (And 90% off book!)

It’s no PIAZZA or INTO THE WOODS, but overall, a marked improvement over any of the Encores! offerings from last season. 

Updated On: 2/6/26 at 11:57 PM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 5:44am

‘High Spirits’ Review: A Ghostly Delight From Encores!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/theater/high-spirits-review-a-ghostly-delight-from-encores.html?unlocked_article_code=1.KFA.bPYK.rpapaLseWofV&smid=nytcore-android-share

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 9:08am

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "the orchestra sounded somewhat dull and canned"

They seem to love putting the orchestra 10 feet above the stage nowadays at Encores, and I wonder if that causes acoustical issues with the sound going straight up into the flies. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 10:09am

It’s interesting that this season has a different music director for each show. Whenever MMC’s time runs out, I wonder if we see Encores scrap the role of in-house Music Director and just hire one per show, as they do with directors and choreographers. Different shows require MDs with different strengths. She’s also one of Broadway’s most in-demand people.

(MMC conducts this one, Daryl Waters will conduct Wild Party, Joseph Joubert is doing La Cage, and Andrew Resnick did the not-Encores-but-basically-Encores Bat Boy)

[ER765]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 11:19am

I liked this, too. With $28 ACCESS tickets still available, it’s a steal. Hardly perfect, but regardless, a welcome return to form for Encores. 

[1 Minute Critic]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 2:22pm

1 Minute Critic - 2 out 5 stars

‘High Spirits’: A musical ghost story that overstays its welcome
Even supernatural beings—much like actual houseguests—can overstay their welcome. Such is the case with the New York City Center Encores! revival of High Spirits. 

Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray’s score isn’t terribly memorable. Still, with its lush overture, entr’acte, and a few standout songs, audiences may wax nostalgic for a time when Broadway musicals didn’t skimp on their orchestras. Full review here.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 5:12pm

Jarethan said: 
I was actually surprised that Encores selected it, since I thought there were a lot of other old musicals from the 60s / early to mid-70s with better scores that I do not think have been done, e.g., The Roar of the Greasepaint; Over Here; Purlie; (don't laugh) Coco!, Hallelujah! Baby!, The Happy Time, Darling of the Day, Half a Sixpence! and even Drat! The Cat!, to name some off the top of my head."

Encores! staged Purlie in 2005 with Blair Underwood and Anika Noni Rose.

Back to High Spirits....

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 5:52pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Well, I enjoyed it for the most part. It’s the archetypalEncores! show - creaky and oddball,but endearingnonetheless. As with most Encores! productions, I found the pacing / comedic timing was a bit scattershot and the sound design was wonky (the orchestra sounded somewhat dull and canned). Hopefully they’ll tweak those things as the run continues. Andrea Martin did go up on her lines a couple of times, but that’s the nature of these productions, so I wasn’t bothered.

The standout performance easily came from Katrina Lenk. What a redemptionafter getting so much (unwarranted)flack forCOMPANY. Funny, regal, and in glorious voice. (And 90% off book!)

It’s no PIAZZA orINTO THE WOODS, but overall, a markedimprovement over any of theEncores! offerings from last season."

I wonder if this revival might come to Broadway,maybe next season. It's a great starring or co-starring? vehicle for Katrina Lenk.

Updated On: 2/6/26 at 05:52 PM