Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre

Round-up of Reviews for Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit[/caption] Michael Blakemore's production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit gets a rousing reception from the critics - including Dame Angela Lansbury's return to the stage. Running until 7 June 2014 at the Gielgud Theatre, Angela Lansbury is joined in the cast by Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey, The King’s Speech) as Charles Condomine, Janie Dee (Hello Dolly!) as Ruth Condomine and Jemima Rooper as Elvira. Other cast include Sandra Dickinson, Simon Jones and Patsy Ferran. What we thought We have never seen a production of Blithe Spirit (and let's face it - there have been a lot of them!) that manages to draw out every possible laugh from Noel Coward's witty and fast-paced drawing-room comedy. In Michael Blakemore's beautifully choreographed production, every single cast member is pitch perfect, particularly Janie Dee's brittle Ruth. Angela Lansbury, making her return to London after nearly 40 years, puts in a performance worthy of her star status and top billing, managing to bring something entirely new to a character that is a well-trodden path for character actresses. BOOK Book tickets to Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre http://storify.com/westendtheatre/blithe-spirit-starring-angela-lansbury-at-the-giel

Photos of the opening night of Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre The glittering new production of Noel Coward's classic comedy Blithe Spirit opened last night at the Gielgud Theatre in London. Michael Blakemore's production features a stellar cast including Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati, Charles Edwards as Charles Condomine, Janie Dee as Ruth Condomine and Jemima Rooper as Elvira. PHOTOS BOOK Book tickets to Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre

Production photos of Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre starring Angela Lansbury. Angela Lansbury stars in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Noel Coward's classic comedy Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre. Angela Lansbury is joined in the cast by Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey, The King's Speech) as Charles Condomine, Janie Dee (Hello Dolly!) as Ruth Condomine and Jemima Rooper as Elvira. Other cast include Sandra Dickinson, Simon Jones and Patsy Ferran. [ngg src="galleries" ids="261" display="basic_imagebrowser"] Photos © Johan Persson BOOK Book tickets to Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre starring Angela Lansbury

Rehearsal photos of Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre Rehearsals are well under way in London for a glittering new stage revival of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit. Previews start this Saturday, 1 March 2014, at the Gielgud Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London as Michael Blakemore directs his acclaimed Broadway production of this classic comedy, starring legendary actress Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati. She is joined by Charles Edwards as Charles Condomine, Janie Dee  as Ruth Condomine and Jemima Rooper as Elvira. Other cast include Sandra Dickinson, Simon Jones and Patsy Ferran. [ngg src="galleries" ids="255" display="basic_imagebrowser"] Photos by Johan Persson. Show info Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre

The Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre has announced further cast. The full cast lineup has been announced for Michael Blakemore's West End revival of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit. Cast already announced include Angela Lansbury as Madame Arcati, Charles Edwards as Charles Condomine, Janie Dee as Charles’ second wife Ruth and Jemima Rooper as Charles' first wife Elvira. They will be joined in the show by Simon Jones as Doctor George Bradman, Sandra Dickinson as Mrs Bradman, and Patsy Ferran as Edith, Charles and Ruth Condemine’s maid. Blithe Spirit runs at the Gielgud Theatre from 1 March to 7 June 2014. LINKS Book tickets to Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre

The UK's New Year Honours list has been announced and a number of high-profile West End, theatre and arts people have been honoured. Highlights of this year's list include West End producer Michael Codron, actresses Penelope Keith and Angela Lansbury, The Phantom of the Opera choreographer Gillian Lynne, former artistic director of the Royal Court Dominic Cooke and Cameron Mackintosh's right-hand man Nick Allott. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Penelope Keith in Blithe Spirit at the Savoy Theatre[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit on Broadway[/caption] Also honoured are ballet dancer Carlos Acosta, singer Katherine Jenkins, comedian, presenter and recent West End playwright Sandi Toksvig, ENO chief executive Loretta Tomasi and conductors Simon Rattle and  Peter Maxwell Davies. The Madame Arcati Effect It seems that the Madame Arcati effect continues to reap rewards for all who play her (Alison Steadman - your time will come!). New Dames Penelope Keith and Angela Lansbury have both tackled the Grande Dame of Noel Coward comedies, Keith in 2004 at the Savoy Theatre and Lansbury in 2009 on Broadway and next year in London (Dame Angela Lansbury will star in Michael Blakemore's revival of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre, from 1 March 2014). [caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Gillian Lynne accepting her 2013 Olivier Award[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Michael Codron portrait by Rex Coleman, National Portrait Gallery[/caption] Gillian Lynne follows her Special Award win at this year's Olivier Awards with a DBE Dame honour. The former dancer turned choreographer and director has had an enormous impact on dance in the West End, her most famous credits being Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. Nicholas Allott, 59, is one of the most significant forces in WORLD theatre but is often eclipsed by his boss and business partner Cameron Mackintosh. Allott runs the Delfont Mackintosh theatres in the West End, including the Noel Coward, Prince Edward and Gielgud Theatres. More significantly he runs Mackintosh's production division, responsible for hundreds of international productions over the last 30-odd years including current West End hits The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables, and the forthcoming revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Nick Allott, managing director of Cameron Mackintosh's production and theatre business[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Theatre director Dominic Cooke[/caption] The Garrick Club will breathe a sigh of relief this week as Michael Codron is finally honoured with the "big one". His contribution to London Theatre is simply extraordinary with hundreds of successful productions under his belt, from risking his shirt on unknown playwright Harold Pinter and The Birthday Party in 1958 to Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests on Broadway in 1973 and a long association with Michael Frayn including acclaimed productions of Noises Off and Democracy. Dominic Cooke is also honoured this year. The former artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 2007 to 2013 had a great run at the theatre, responsible for hits including Jerusalem and Clybourne Park. USEFUL LINKS UK Government website - New Years Honours 2014 Desert Island Discs: Michael Codron Mark Lawson interview with Michael Codron BOOKING Book tickets to Blithe Spirit starring Dame Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre   FULL LIST OF THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE NEW YEAR HONOURS 2014 KNIGHTS BACHELOR Michael Victor Codron, CBE. For services to the Theatre. (London) ORDER OF MERIT Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE. ORDER OF THE COMPANIONS OF HONOUR Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE. Composer and conductor. For services to Music. (London) ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE DBE Mrs Penelope (Penelope Anne Constance Timson) Keith, CBE DL. For services to the Arts and to Charity. (Godalming, Surrey) Miss Gillian Barbara Lynne, CBE. Choreographer. For services to Dance and Musical Theatre. (London) CBE Victoria Harriet Lucy Bridgeman. Viscountess. Founder, Bridgeman Arts Library and the Artists' Collecting Society. For services to Art. (London) Dominic Cooke. Theatre director. For services to Drama. (London) John Michael Harold Copley. Opera director. For services to Opera. (London) Stephen Hough. Pianist. For services to Music. (London) Roger George Parry. For services to Media and the Arts particularly the Globe Theatre, London. (London) Carlos Yunior Acosta Quesada. Ballet Dancer. For services to Ballet. (London) OBE Nicholas Allott. For services to Theatre and Charity. (London) Michael John Bonehill. For charitable services, particularly to the National Youth Theatre. (Theydon Bois, Essex) Dr Fiona Kennedy Clark, DL. For services to Music and for charitable services in Scotland. (Aberdeenshire) Paul Anthony Griffiths. For services to Music Literature and Composition. (Manobier, Pembrokeshire) Ms Erica Jane Hewison. Founding Partner, Bolton and Quinn. For services to the Arts. (London) Lady Patricia Marina Hobson, MBE. For services to Ballet and Philanthropy. (London) Anthony Horowitz. Author and Screenwriter. For services to Literature. (London) Ms Gillian Leah Humphreys. Founder and Artistic director, The Concordia Foundation. For services to Music. (London) Miss Katherine Jenkins. Singer. For services to Music and for charitable services. (London) Jeremy King. Restaurateur. For services to the Hospitality Industry and voluntary service to the Arts. (London) Ms Jane Elizabeth Quinn. Founding Partner, Bolton and Quinn. For services to the Arts. (London) Syon Ivan Sadka. Chair, Derek Williams Trust. For services to the National Museum of Wales and to the Arts in Wales. (Sully, Vale of Glamorgan) Ms Christina Anne Smith. For philanthropic services to Conservation and the Arts. (London) David Charles Chester Sulkin. For services to the Arts, Education and Charity. (London) Ms Sandra Birgitte Toksvig. Comedienne, Presenter and Author. For services to Broadcasting. (London) Ms Loretta Tomasi. Chief executive, English National Opera. For services to Opera. (London) Ms Vanessa Victoria Whitburn. Formerly Editor, The Archers. For services to Radio Drama. (Warwickshire) MBE Mrs Anne Olivier Bell. For services to Literature and the Arts. (Lewes, East Sussex) Ms Marie de Assis Carreiro. Artistic director, Royal Ballet of Flanders. For services to Dance. (Belgium) Anthony James Coffey. Teacher and director of Learning for Performing Arts and Multi-Media. Landau Forte College, Derbyshire. For services to Education. (Oakwood, Derbyshire) Anthony John William Douglas. Music Teacher, Morley College, London. For services to Further Education. (London) Miss Joyce Ellis. Founder and Musical director, Kinder Children's Choirs of the High Peak. For services to Music and Young People in Derbyshire. (High Peak, Derbyshire) Patric Alan Gilchrist. Executive director, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick. For services to the Arts. (Cockermouth, Cumbria) Mrs Angela Margaret Kay. Artistic director, Music for Everyone. For services to Music in Nottinghamshire. (Stapleford Woods, Lincolnshire) David John Kemp. Music Teacher and assistant Headteacher, Queen Elizabeth Humanities College, Herefordshire. For services to Education. (Bromyard, Herefordshire) Mrs Jean Elizabeth Kershaw. Formerly Deputy director, Helmsley Arts Centre. For services to Art. (York, North Yorkshire) Mrs Gladys Alanna Knight. Writer. For services to Literature. (Edinburgh) William John Lonsdale. Teacher of the Performing Arts, Sandbach School, Cheshire. For services to Education. (Sandbach, Cheshire) Ms Olivia Francoise Danielle (Liv) Lorent. Founder and Artistic director, balletLorent. For services to Dance. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear) Ms Eleanor Anne (Annie) Mawson. Founder, Sunbeams Music Trust. For services to Music Therapy in Cumbria. (Penrith, Cumbria) Miss Margaret Murray. Music Teacher. For services to Music. (London) Dr Marios Papadopoulos. Founder and Music director, Oxford Philomusica. For services to Music in Oxford. (London) Mrs Ruth Alexandra Elizabeth (Ruth Jones) Peet. Writer and Actress. For services to Entertainment. (Cardiff) Ms Carol Pemberton. Music director and Singer, Black Voices. For services to Music. (Birmingham, West Midlands) Mrs Kathleen Wendy Herald Peyton. Children's Author. For services to Children's Literature. (London) Miss Jane Evelyn Pritchard. Curator of Dance, Theatre and Performance Collections, Victoria and Albert Museum. For services to the Arts. (London) John George Ruddick. Musical director, Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra. For services to Jazz. (Solihull, West Midlands) Mrs Bisakha Sarker. For services to South Asian Dance in Merseyside. (Liverpool, Merseyside) Neil Shawcross. Artist. For services to Arts in Northern Ireland. (Hillsborough, Down) Peter Norman Sparling. For services to the Arts, Education and to the community in West Yorkshire. (Collingham, West Yorkshire) Peter Tong. For services to Broadcasting and Music. (London) William Leslie Weller. For services to Chichester Cathedral and to the Arts in West Sussex. (Horsham, West Sussex) BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL Mrs Jean Mary Andrews. For charitable services to Music in Swansea. (Swansea) Ronald William Barlow. For services to the Guide Bridge Drama Project. (Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester) Mrs Penelope Audrey Brookman. Volunteer Dance and Drama Teacher, Kintbury St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, Berkshire. For services to Education. (Hungerford, Berkshire) Alan Castle. Founder, Tenterden Folk Festival. For services to Music and Heritage. (Ashford, Kent) Donald Keith Coleman. For services to Music and the community in Rivenhall and Silver End (Witham, Essex) Mrs Irene Margaret Cumming. President, Ballymena Festival of Music, Speech and Dance. For services to the community in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. (Ballymena, Antrim) Mrs June Davenhill. Musical director, Pelsall Ladies Choir. For services to Music and the community. (Walsall, West Midlands) Mrs Jean Depledge. For services to Music and to charity in Dukinfield, Cheshire. (Dukinfield, Greater Manchester) Colin Brian Edgar. Musical director, Suffolk Constabulary Male Choir. For services to Policing and the community. (Stowmarket, Suffolk) John George Gibson. For services to Music through the Salvation Army in Norwich, Norfolk. (Norwich, Norfolk) Alistair Cameron Hardie. For services to Music and to the community in Morayshire. (Rafford, Moray) Mrs Edna Florence Howard. Chair, Newcastle Glee Musical Society. For services to Musical Theatre and the community in Newcastle, Co Down. (Newcastle, Down) John David Desmond Humphreys. For services to Youth Music and to the community in Rhayader, Powys. (Rhayader, Powys) Mrs Margaret Jaffe. Founder, Northern Dance Centre. For services to Dance. (Skipton, North Yorkshire) Mrs Judith Elizabeth Land. Musical director, Alcester Male Voice Choir. For services to Music and to the community in Alcester, Warwickshire. (Redditch, Worcestershire) Steven Miles Large. For services to Brass Band Music. (Andover, Hampshire) Frederick William Peacock. For services to Church Music in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear) Stuart Russell. For voluntary service to the Arts in Fife. (Glenrothes, Fife) Gordon Speers. Musical director, Portadown Male Voice Choir. For services to Music in Northern Ireland. (Portadown, Armagh) Arthur Henry Tipper. For services to Music in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. (Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire) Mrs Marcia Watts. For charitable services to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and for voluntary service to Danybryn Cheshire Home, Radyr, Cardiff. (Cardiff) Ian Anthony Yeoman. Band director, Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums, Romford. For services to Music. (London) DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AND OVERSEAS LIST ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE DBE Mrs Angela Brigid Lansbury Shaw, CBE. Actress. For services to drama and to charitable work and philanthropy. MBE Mrs Gillian (Leila) Maw Straus. Chairman, American Associates of the National Theatre. For services to philanthropy and the Arts. Mrs Doreen Alicia Tabor. Trustee, the Tabor Foundation. For services to charity, cultural understanding and the Arts. BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL OBE Robert Au Nama. For services to the Arts.   FURTHER INFORMATION ON NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST RECIPIENTS Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CBE Sir Peter is one of the most influential contemporary British composers, whose works include operas, ballet scores, 10 symphonies, 15 concertos and much else besides. Master of the Queen’s Music for nearly a decade, he has sought to raise the profile of music in Great Britain as well as composing many works for Royal occasions. He has been an especial champion for music education and music in Scotland, founding Orkney’s annual arts festival and serving as Associate Composer and Conductor to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Composer/Conductor with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and Composer Laureate of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Penelope Keith CBE DL (Penelope Timson) Penelope Timson, better known as Penelope Keith, is a much loved actor who has devoted considerable amounts of time to voluntary work for a range of charities. She played a significant role in helping to establish and then develop the National Memorial Arboretum. She has given her time generously as Pro-Chancellor of Surrey University. She is President of KeepOut, a crime diversion scheme which advocates alternatives to custody, and of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund. She has also been involved with many smaller charities on a sustained and long-term basis. Gillian Lynne CBE Gillian Lynne is the leading choreographer of her generation. A seminal influence on British dance, she choreographed Cats and Phantom of the Opera and directed a good fifty other shows on the West End and Broadway. She was elected Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2012. She also supports a variety of good causes, including the Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship, the Actors Centre, the Royal Brompton Hospital, the British School of Osteopathy and many dance and theatre-related charities. Michael Codron CBE Michael Codron is the leading producer of post-war British drama who has influenced global theatre-going for over half a century. In particular, he has fostered first-rate new writing in Britain (including by the then virtually unknown Harold Pinter, whose play The Birthday Party he premiered in 1958) and his name is synonymous with productions of quality, wit and intelligence. A former Director of the Hampstead Theatre and the National Theatre, and is an honorary Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. He is Honorary Vice President of the Society of London Theatre. Angela LANSBURY SHAW CBE Actress. For services to drama and to charitable work and philanthropy. Angela Lansbury Shaw has worked tirelessly carrying out extensive and wide-ranging charitable, voluntary and philanthropic work over many years to support organisations helping to improve the lives of many people. With selfless determination and generosity of spirit she has willingly lent her prominence and popularity, raising large sums of money for numerous charities including scholarships for young students and support for medical research. An accomplished actress, Angela Lansbury is well-known for her long and successful acting career and many achievements in the entertainment industry where she has repeatedly given back and helped others, including working with younger people to inspire the next generation of actors.

FIRST LOOK: The poster for Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre starring Angela Lansbury. The poster has been released for the revival of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre (1 March to 7 June 2014). Directed by Michael Blakemore based on his recent Broadway production, the play will see Angela Lansbury revive her acclaimed performance as Madame Arcati. Angela Lansbury is joined in the cast by Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey, The King’s Speech) as Charles Condomine, Janie Dee (Hello Dolly!) as Ruth Condomine and Jemima Rooper as Elvira. BOOK Book tickets for Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre starring Angela Lansbury [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="482"] Poster for Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre starring Angela Lansbury[/caption]