Timothy Gray has passed away

[fakemyway2thetop]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 7:28pm

I love listening to the OBC album of High Spirits. Rest in peace Mr. Gray.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 7:30pm

FOREVER AND A DAY...
RIP

[D2]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 7:35pm

What a lovely man. He owned a bakery on 8th Avenue for years, St. Famous Bread. He was also gracious enough to come to see a production of HIGH SPIRITS I directed, and stayed to party with the cast afterward for a short bit and then drive some of us home, regaling us with stories of the original production, particularly the uproarious antics of Bea Lilly. R.I.P., Mr. Gray.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 7:38pm

Very sad. Sorry I never saw him perform

HS is a show that needs to be revived while we are at it

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:00pm

I hate to say this, but... your title rhymes.

Anyway, my prayers go out for his friends and family.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 11:02pm

Sorry to hear that.

I would love to see High Spirits revived. "Home Sweet Heaven" is one of the greatest songs ever written for musical theatre in my opinion.

Could anyone else see Bernadette Peters as Madame Arcati? It'd be a little different, but I think it could work.

[fakemyway2thetop]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 11:32pm

Roxy, I didn't plan it, I swear!

[lvpblues]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 12:39am

bwayboi4life, I always imagined Bernadette would make a mesmerizing Elvira, with say Angela Lansbury playing Arcati. (Add David Hyde Pierce and Vicki Clark to fill out Charles and Ruth and you've got a great night for me).

Mr. Gray will be missed and High Spirits is a show to be remembered. (Especially "Home Sweet Heaven").

~Kev

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 1:49am

Hey, I know this is a long shot...

But Jackie Arrington, if you are reading this, PM me.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:48am

lvpblues, now that you say that, I think Angela Lansbury would make a great Arcati! And David Hyde Pierce would be hilarious as Charles!!! I don't really know about Victoria Clark as Ruth, though. Bernadette probably would make a good Elvira, but no one can ever beat Tammy Grimes singing "Home Sweet Heaven."

[D2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 8:56am

I was wondering how long it would take before this became a HIGH SPIRITS fantasy casting thread.

Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:01am

Very sad news. I had the pleasure of seeing the first tryout performance of High Spirits in Boston many years ago and again in NYC. I love this show and the recording. I never see a performance of Blithe Spirit without the High Spirits score playing in my head Regardless of the stories circulated about Beatrice Lillie, she was magnificent and hilarious in performance.

[D2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:09am

Most of the stories Mr. Gray shared with us were highly complimentary to Miss Lillie, detailing some of the brilliant stuff she incorporated into her performances. Apparently, she got bored in long runs and would create hilarious bits of business on the spot. According to Mr. Gray, when the show opened it was running at 2 1/2 hours, by the time it closed it was running over 3 because of the increased laughter. It infuriated Tammy Grimes, who evidently loved to give the same performance every night. A great performance, but never deviating from night to night. But nonetheless, Mr. Gray was very respectful of Miss Lillie in everything he said about her.