Comedy, romance, and the greatest songs

REVIEW: ‘High Society' at New Theatre, Cardiff

The most swellegant, elegant party of the year arrived in Cardiff last night (Tuesday) to a standing ovation from a packed house at the New Theatre.

This was the opening night of High Society - a spectacular, top- quality West End production full of comedy, romance, and some of the 20th century's greatest songs.

After its successful run in London’s West End, the show is now on an extensive four-month UK tour, with Cardiff lucky to be among the first stops.

It's based on the 1956 film, which starred Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby, and has an impressive cast of 28, headed by Helen George (from Call the Midwife on TV and The King and I on stage) as glamorous socialite and divorcee Tracy Lord.

She is joined by Freddie Fox (TV's House of the Dragon, Slow Horses), Nigel Lindsay, Julian Ovenden, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Malcolm Sinclair, Josefina Gabrielle, Naomi Pacquette, David Seadon-Young, and James Hume. There isn't a remotely weak link among them or the ensemble - the whole production oozes quality.

Perhaps that's fitting, as we're in the glamorous world of the idle rich in 1950s Newport, Rhode Island, as the Lord family (they really are the Lords of this world - owning all sorts of businesses, including a gold mine) prepare for the wedding of their beautiful daughter (Helen George) to a dull accountant (David Seadon-Young).

But preparations soon descend into chaos, when Tracy's ex-husband (Julian Ovenden) and an undercover reporter (Freddie Fox) turn up among the guests, and Uncle Willie (Nigel Lindsay), who's been tasked with organising the affair, has (as usual) been at the gin!

Performed with a full-size orchestra, under the musical direction of Dan McLaughlin, the show is like a perfect playlist of Cole Porter hits - expanded with the addition of several much-loved classics from the master of the sophisticated tune and witty lyric.

Among the incredible catalogue of songs are: Just One Of Those Things, Let’s Misbehave, I Love Paris, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Well, Did You Evah!, True Love,

Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love, You Do Something to Me, Be a Clown, You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To, All Of You and Now You Has Jazz.

They're such infectious tunes, I found myself whistling a medley of these on the way home, and I confess I got goosebumps at Carly Mercedes Dyer's incredibly moving rendition of I’ve Got You Under My Skin.

Porter's songs and Arthur Kopit's book (with additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead) are brought to life by a supremely talented creative team, led by director Rachel Kavanaugh.

Special mentions are due to choreographer Anthony Van Laast and the brilliant design team - Tom Rogers (sets), Jon Morrell (costumes), Howard Hudson (lighting), Adam Fisher (sound), and Helen Keane (wigs, hair, and make-up).

Overall, this is a just-about-perfect theatrical experience - it looks fabulous, it sounds wonderful, and it will make you feel on top of the world. A swellegant, elegant experience indeed.

High Society is at the New Theatre until Saturday 25 July. Tickets are available from the box office on 0343 310 0041 or online here.

Helen George talks about the show and growing up listening to her father's jazz records, in this post on our companion arts and entertainment blog Piece of Pink Pie.

Review by Andy Weltch

Photos by Pamela Raith

We received free tickets for this performance in exchange for an honest review