When the Spirit Moves Them

Elizabeth Ashley, Polly Bergen, Jim Dale, Raul Esparza, Tammy Grimes, Cheyenne Jackson, Judith Light, Donna Murphy, and more stars join Angela Lansbury, Rupert Everett and company for the opening of Broadway's Blithe Spirit.

By Joseph Marzullo,Brian Scott Lipton • Mar 16, 2009 • New York

The Broadway revival of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit opened on Sunday at the Shubert Theatre, with four-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury earning rave reviews and rapturous applause for her portrayal of kooky medium Madame Arcati.

Rupert Everett is absolutely right as urbane author Charles Condomine in the play.

Jayne Atkinson as Charles' second wife Ruth, Tony winner Christine Ebersole as (dead) first wife Elvira, and Deborah Rush as Mrs. Bradman all lend a touch of glamour to the play.

Veteran actor Simon Jones co-stars as family friend Dr. Bradman.

Susan Louise O'Connor makes a smashing Broadway debut as ditzy maid Edith.

The opening night guests included Tony winner Elizabeth Ashley, currently starring in Broadway's August: Osage County.

The wonderful Tovah Feldshuh recently returned to Broadway in Irena's Vow.

Cheyenne Jackson and Rachel Dratch -- who sometimes costar in the weekly Celebrity Autobiography -- know how to keep busy: Jackson will be playing Woody in the City Center Encores! revival of Finian's Rainbow, while Dratch recently co-starred in the Broadway-bound musical Minsky's.

The one-and-only Marian Seldes starred with Lansbury in their last Broadway outing: Terrence McNally's Deuce.

The fabulous Polly Bergen, who will star in an upcoming edition of the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series, caught up with three-time Tony nominee Raul Esparza.

Tony winner Donna Murphy co-stars on the new TNT series Trust Me.

Here's the ever-popular Jim Dale with his lovely wife Julie.

Judith Light -- who recently hosted MCC Theatre's Miscast benefit -- is delighting television audiences with her work on ABC's Ugly Betty.

Roger Rees recently directed and narrated the Collegiate Chorale's stunning concert version of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's The Firebrand of Florence at the recently reopened Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

Finally, here's the great Tammy Grimes, who starred on Broadway in High Spirits, the musical version of Blithe Spirit.

For Theatermania's review of Blithe Sprit, click here.