As the last show of Kevin Spacey’s 11 year tenure as Artistic Director of The Old Vic, Maria Friedman directs a fitting farewell to the man who has put theatre south of the river back on the map, not to mention providing audiences with a ravishing tribute to the glamour of the 1950s Hollywood musical, just in time for the summer.
This flamboyant production is based on the 1939 play, The Philadelphia Story, by Philip Barry and the later Cole Porter musical film version, High Society, telling the story of the wealthy American Lord family who are making final preparations for their daughter Tracy’s society wedding on their Long Island estate.
Barry originally created the part of Tracy for Katherine Hepburn who starred in the 1940 motion picture version of The Philadelphia Story opposite Cary Grant, with Grace Kelly taking up the role in the 1956 colour musical High Society alongside Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
This time around Kate Fleetwood gives a confident performance as Tracy and avoids falling into the trap of imitating either Hepburn or Kelly, creating her own highly comical take on the haughty socialite who drinks, rides, sails, travels, plays golf and collects art. Intending to marry the wealthy but dull George Kittredge (Richard Grieve), whom her family make no bones of intensely disliking, whilst we initially loathe Tracy for being spoilt and demanding, the more rebellious she becomes with champagne the more likeable she is.
Jazz musician Joe Stilgoe, who plays the Frank Sinatra role of Joey Powell, opens the show with a terrific piano improvisation and, considering he relies on the audience to shout out hits he can merge, it’s impressive how well he made Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Moonlight Sonata work together.
From tap dancing on a piano to a vibrant night-before-the-wedding party scene, Nathan M Wright’s choreography ensures energy levels increase rather than dip, with more than a helping hand from the live swing band who make the Porter classics, ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’, ‘True Love’ and ‘Just One Of Those Things’, really come alive.
Robert Young is Tracy’s dashing ex-husband CK Dexter Haven, determined to set the wedding plans awry, and Ellie Bamber is captivating as her young sister Dinah – definitely one to watch. Other memorable cast members include Barbara Flyn as Tracy’s mother and the vocally impressive Jamie Parker as journalist Mike Connor who is gatecrashing in the hope of getting an exclusive scoop on the wedding of the year but ends up enjoying a cheeky embrace with the bride in the swimming pool!
A fantastical peek at the lifestyle of the idle rich of America’s East Coast, this High Society is swellegant and elegant, complete with stunning Dior-inspired 1950s costumes set off by Peter Mumford’s versatile lighting and Tom Pye’s myriad props which succeed in making this in-the-round production a full-on spectacle.
With over 300 props, champagne corks fly (courtesy of the sponsor, Tattinger) and there’s even a real stove which a footman uses to prepare the family’s breakfast of bacon, pancakes and maple syrup, providing the audience with their first Smell-O-Vision theatre experience. This show really does have it all – even the kitchen sink.
High Society at the Old Vic until 22nd August 2015. Running time two hours and thirty minutes including an interval. For more information and tickets visit the website.
