variety.com
81%
553
‘Blithe Spirit’: Theater Review
In David Lean’s 1945 film of Noël Coward’s ghostly comedy “Blithe Spirit,” Margaret Rutherford memorably embodied the role of local spirit guide Madame Arcati — but she was given a run for money by her surrounding players. These days, the balance has shifted. It’s now a star vehicle, hence Angela Lansbury’s assumption of the role on Broadway and in London’s West End. That partly explains why Jennifer Saunders (“Absolutely Fabulous”) is headlining the latest revival. But anyone expecting a comedian to overbalance the proceedings should think again: Saunders is anything but medium.
