By KATIE WALSH Tribune News Service
February 17, 2021
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Noel Coward’s 1941 play “Blithe Spirit” is classic material: a comic screwball play about a mystery novelist who is haunted by his ex-wife, summoned by a medium while trying to work through his writer’s block. The play has been staged numerous times on the West End and on Broadway since its debut, adapted to a musical (“High Spirits”) and filmed as a movie in 1945, starring Rex Harrison. The ongoing revival continues with Edward Hall’s film version, starring Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher and Leslie Mann.
Dan Stevens, left, and Leslie Mann in “Blithe Spirit.” (Courtesy of IFC Films/TNS)
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Noël Coward’s 1941 play “Blithe Spirit” is classic material: a screwball comedy about a mystery novelist with writer’s block who is haunted by his late first wife after she is inadvertently summoned by a medium. The play has been staged numerous times on the West End and on Broadway since its debut, filmed as a movie starring Rex Harrison in 1945 and adapted into a musical, “High Spirits,” in 1964. The ongoing revival continues with Edward Hall’s film version, starring Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher and Leslie Mann.
In this particular adaptation, the play has been given a Hollywood twist, with the novelist, Charles Condomine (Stevens) struggling to write the screenplay of one of his works for the producer father of his wife, Ruth (Fisher). When the couple attends the mystical show of Madame Arcati (Judi Dench), they find her to be a fraud, but Charles thinks observing the tricks of her trade might offer some inspiration for his writing. During the séance, Madame Arc
Q&A immediately following with director Edward Hall.
A spiritualist medium holds a séance for a writer suffering from writer s block but accidentally summons the spirit of his deceased first wife which leads to an increasingly complex love triangle with his current wife of five years. Based upon the 1941 play of the same name by Noël Coward, the British comedy is directed by Edward Hall and stars Judi Dench, Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, and Emilia Fox, among others.
“We just feel like people could do with being cheered up at the moment,” says writer-producer Meg Leonard, while writer-producer Nick Moorcroft adds that “this is a movie where you want people to go out for the night with a gang of friends and just have a laugh and actually just forget about everything. Enjoy great scenery, great locations, great funny witty performances and lovely music.”
Captain Tom suggested fellow knights Michael Caine or Anthony Hopkins play him (Image: GETTY)
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According to Variety, Moorcroft and Leonard continued: “We are honoured to be telling this unique and inspiring story and are excited about audiences getting to know the man behind the headlines.”
While fellow producer James Spring said: “At a time of fear and uncertainty, 161 countries around the world embraced the beacon of hope that Captain Sir Tom provided.
“We are privileged that Tom and his family have entrusted us to tell their story.”
While Captain Tom suggested that Hopkins or Caine play him, Coral bookmakers have Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch on 2-1 to play a younger version of the army officer.
The unlikeliest hit film, Fisherman s Friends, has set a course for the West End, and is getting ready to sail into the sometimes choppy seas of musical theatre.
It is based on the true story of the shanty singing fishermen, from the Cornish village of Port Isaac, who found fame after being snapped up by Universal Music. Their debut album was a Top Ten hit.
Ian Brown, who signed the a capella group and now manages them, said Fisherman s Friends: The Musical is an extension of the magic of sea shanties .
His words are shored up by the success of Nathan Evans, the 26-year-old postman from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, whose TikTok videos of centuries old seafaring songs attracted millions of views and a record contract.