High Society

Southey Musical Theatre Company has produced a thoroughly enjoyable show. Arthur Kopit’s book is witty and touching and Cole Porter’s songs are instantly recognisable.
Rich socialite, Tracy Lord is about to marry dull social climber George Kittredge. To complicate matters, enter Dexter, her first husband, much to the delight of Dinah, Tracy’s younger sister. Further confusion for Tracy arrives in the shape of handsome reporter, Mike Connor and his female colleague, Liz Imbrie. Can Tracy make the right choice from three apparent suitors?
The ensemble players are pivotal to this performance. In addition to belting out the great songs, Let’s Misbehave, Well Did You Evah and the title tune, they are lowly staff eavesdropping on upper class life. This is an alien world to them.
Gina Townend shines as Tracy. She has a beautiful singing voice and glides gracefully around the stage. Youngster Katie Mather as Dinah shows her versatility as she does an impressive ballet Pointe during a hilarious duet, I Love Paris, with Tracy. She plays a subtle Puck-like role to encourage romance.
Another laugh out loud moment is when Danni Birks as Liz, is singing I’m getting myself ready for you with lecherous Uncle Willie (Mel White) and she mouths “Help” to the audience.
Other inspired lines are: Mike saying “Thanks Jeeves” to a butler who gave him a drink, who retorts, “Jeeves is no longer with us”. There is even a nod to Casablanca when Dexter says to George, “This could be the start of a wonderful friendship”. Clever stuff.

• Type: user
• Performance Date: 09/11/2011
• Star rating: 12345