HIGH SPIRITS at Encores!- Page 2

[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

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 6:29pm

MezzA101 said: "‘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"

I know headlines often suck, but this unreasonably bugs me: "A revival of a 1964 musical, which puts a supernatural spin on a Noël Coward play,"  

Err... the Coward play *always* had a supernatural spin to it.  They probably wanted to say "a musical spin" but had already used the word musical...  I am glad they point out the new ending the musical has (which I actually prefer to the play's.)

As for people suggesting this might have a chance at a Broadway revival?  Ha! :P

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/6/26 at 6:56pm

fosterfan2 said: "I wonder if this revival might come to Broadway,maybe next season. It's a great starring or co-starring? vehicle for Katrina Lenk."

Not a chance in hell.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 10:53am

fosterfan2 said: "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."

Yeah, not happening. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 11:56am

ER765 said: "I liked this, too. With $28 ACCESStickets still available, it’s a steal. Hardly perfect, but regardless, awelcome return to form for Encores."

Is there a different code for this show or did I miss the boat? Was just looking to buy now. 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 12:31pm

Scarywarhol said: "ER765 said: "I liked this, too. With $28 ACCESStickets still available, it’s a steal. Hardly perfect, but regardless, awelcome return to form for Encores."

Is there a different code for this show or did I miss the boat? Was just looking to buy now."

You have to be 40 years old or under, but this should help! 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 12:35pm

Scarywarhol said: "ER765 said: "I liked this, too. With $28 ACCESStickets still available, it’s a steal. Hardly perfect, but regardless, awelcome return to form for Encores."

Is there a different code for this show or did I miss the boat? Was just looking to buy now."

They're still available! I bought one this morning for next weekend. The link WiCkEDrOcKS shared above walks you through the process.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 12:39pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Scarywarhol said: "ER765 said: "I liked this, too. With $28 ACCESStickets still available, it’s a steal. Hardly perfect, but regardless, awelcome return to form for Encores."

Is there a different code for this show or did I miss the boat? Was just looking to buy now."

They're still available! I bought one this morning for next weekend.The link WiCkEDrOcKS shared above walks you through the process."

Thank you both!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/7/26 at 12:46pm

Scarywarhol said: "ER765 said: "I liked this, too. With $28 ACCESStickets still available, it’s a steal. Hardly perfect, but regardless, awelcome return to form for Encores."

Is there a different code for this show or did I miss the boat? Was just looking to buy now."

The code SPIRITS gives a very small discount. 

[EthelMae]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 10:47am

Seeing it on Saturday. Can anyone let me know about the sightlines for this production in the Balcony? The last production I saw at Encores, I don't recall now what, had scenes played way on top of the proscenium so you only saw the actors from the waist down at times. Some of the photos from this production looked like similar staging. Just curious. Thanks! 

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 11:58am

I saw this last evening and so glad I did!  I am a big Blithe Spirit enthusiast.  I love Coward's original play and I can see how he directed and took part in this musical adaptation back in the 60's.  The original creative team did what Hello, Dolly! produced (in the same season); they took solid source material and created musical numbers in place of specific dialogue and/or enhanced what Coward wrote.  The musical is campy and fun and very in the sixties style.  The songs are delightful and witty in both melody and lyric.  I truly enjoyed the score.  I'd like to know how this has not been produced more often, even out of NY on more occasions.  A wonderful golden age show that holds up, in my opinion.  This cast has great chemistry together and perfectly placed in each role.  Honestly, I think it is my favorite of Soo's that I've seen and Lenk turns in a wonderful character of a role.  She is enchanting.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 12:20pm

28 dollars is such a good deal but the balcony at CC sucks. Very torn on this. It seems to just make more sense to skip out on the show entirely.

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 12:48pm

I was Balcony Row B - about 7 seats off  the aisle...did not miss a single thing on house right and had a full view of any action on the raised platform.  The last two rows of the musicians in the back  were cut off by the proscenium but that was it.  The full show was in view...though higher up..I love it...the distance is closer to the stage than most balcony overhangs.  Its a steal!

[EthelMae]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 2:11pm

Thank you!

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 5:46pm

You’ve sold me, Flowerlovestage. I’ll go in with an open mind!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/10/26 at 6:04am

Falsettolands said: "28 dollars is such a good deal but the balcony at CC sucks. Very torn on this. It seems to just make more sense toskip out on the show entirely."

FWIW I got back of the mezzanine for $28, not the balcony.

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 11:04pm

We went with no expectations, and boy, that was a lot of fun. Lots of really good work being done on stage.

Andrea Martin, God bless her, went up on a line later in the show (she has so much material, holy ow) and said, out loud, "It's late, and I'm tired" to much, much applause. 

Definitely get tickets if you can.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 2/12/26 at 11:13pm

i'll dissent. 

a solid production of a very stale and irredeemably silly show. i am just not the audience for these old school long forgotten musicals--unless theres a fantastic score to justify the revisit. here, there simply is not. i couldnt stay awake.

Soo can do no wrong, but she is exceptionally good at the prim/proper British tone, while singing gorgeously. Andrea Martin is a national treasure, its simply remarkable how versatile and loony and energetic she remains. She just stole the 2nd Act of Meet the Cartozians and to now see her flying around on a stationary bike--a true wonder. 

TDF put us in the very rear and very empty orchestra for those wondering. 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/13/26 at 7:50am

Unfortunately, I also found this a tedious, largely unfunny bore. I’m a big fan of Blithe Spirit, but this adaptation saps all of the fun from it. What should be a delicious drawing room comedy is rendered an unfocused, Temu Cole Porter slog.

Can we talk about the Noel Coward framing device for a second? Who decided to do this? Did they not think we would understand that Elvira is a ghost or that we wouldn’t be able to tell where we were from moment to moment because of the lack of set? I’ve never had an issue using my imagination on underdesigned Encores concerts before, nor have I thought “It would be nice to have some stage directions read aloud here so we could have more context.” Not only did it feel vaguely condescending to the audience, it continuously brought the show to a complete halt, stepping on what could have been some funny character bits.

That said… I don’t know how funny this cast could have been. Katrina Lenk aside, they all performed with a faint air of embarrassment on Tuesday night. Almost as if they could sense how stale the whole thing is. Genuinely, some of the lowest commitment I’ve seen in an Encores production, right down to the fact that not a single person other than Lenk seems to know their lines. Those binders weren’t just a choice, they’re a necessity. Poor Andrea Martin barely even knew where she was and seemed like she just wanted to get home.

This was a very very strange choice for Encores. I know there are some forgotten gems out there to be uncovered, and this just wasn’t one of them for me. I’m even more eagerly anticipating Wild Party now.

Updated On: 2/16/26 at 07:50 AM

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 2/13/26 at 1:01pm

I can appreciate the actors work on this but I almost fell asleep

[NJGUY]

Posted: 2/13/26 at 4:10pm

I  liked it A LOT!.  (as did the group we were with). Have been seeing musicals since I saw Zero Mostel in "Fiddler on the Roof".  Was it on the same level as other great musicals?  No. Was it fun with some well performed performances? Yes  I don't think it requires a lot of thinking and analysis to enjoy oneself.  I HIGHLY recommend this, it is unlikely it will be produced again at this professional level.

[Merkin2]

Posted: 2/14/26 at 7:07am

I got back of the mezz too, never sat there before, always in the front balcony, but I hated the overhang in rear mezz.  I strategically moved up to front mezz after looking at the seating chart. Score.  I thought it was lovely!!  The score has that sophisticated wit, love it!!  It’s not perfect, I especially didn’t like the way things ended up for Ruth. But it’s a cute show, the three leads in particular blew it out of the park.  The orchestra sounded gorgeous, love that mid century sound with spirited woodwinds and muted trumpets

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 2/14/26 at 3:13pm

Enjoyed this last night Fri. the 13th but didn't LUV it.

Someone's listening device was causing me to have to cover one ear sometimes to help block it out & house staff was offering to let me move but I was with someone who didn't want to & who has hearing issues of their own so didn't hear what I was hearing.

Luved the percussionists period bongo playing as well as his glockenspiel work.

Steven could have made more of an effort to win me over to his lounge singer songs while Andrea seemed too buried in her script to make the most of her abilities.

Phillipa Soo showed a very different quality that I luved. Lenk has never sang better. Sometimes I felt I was watching not Tammy Grimes but Barbara Harris. Was thinking of BEWITCHED during much of it only to learn afterwards that Tammy Grimes had been offered the long running TV series but turned it down mainly to do HIGH SPIRITS, instead.

Dratch's physical humor was a real enhancement to the show as well as the ensemble whose modern scene change help was hilarious & clever. The magic was handled well, too.

 

Updated On: 2/14/26 at 03:13 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/14/26 at 4:06pm

ColorTheHours048 hit the nail on the head and took the words right out of mouth.

I did not enjoy this. The entire thing felt stale and strangely lifeless. Yes, the material is undeniably dated, but strong direction can often make even the oldest and dustiest of shows worth reviving. That is not the case here.

Aside from the illustrious Katrina Lenk, the performances across the board were a mess. Most of the cast appeared bored out of their minds. Andrea Martin stumbled over her lines more than once even with the script in hand. Steven Pasquale and Phillipa Soo seemed visibly over it, and they both played the material with a kind of detached embarrassment.

With so many overlooked musical gems waiting to be rediscovered, the decision by Encores! to mount this particular title is puzzling.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 2/15/26 at 1:52pm

After reading the posts here, I was curious… When I tried to find the OBC recording, it wasn’t available to stream on Amazon, Apple, Tidal, Qobuz or Spotify. It is free to listen to on YouTube,  though…