REVIEW: High Society
By Paul Bromley, volunteer theatre reviewer
This is Eastbourne Theatre’s major autumn production. It’s been extensively promoted for many months with a star-studded cast including household names from TV and stage – and it certainly lives up to its billing as a “swellegant” party.
It was a dark and damp evening for the opening night as the audience filed in to the Congress Theatre to be greeted by the sound of the orchestra tuning up. Eastbourne is fortunate to have a venue capable of staging big West End shows with top-class live entertainment and excellent live musical production.
Even the voiceover reminding people to turn off their mobile phones captured the mood with a message that: “This is going to be a swell party, lots of dancing and drinking.”
Curtain up revealed a riot of colour with bright dresses and smart suits at the pre-wedding preparations for socialite Tracy Lord (a dazzling Helen George from Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing).
She is due to marry the rather dull accountant George Kittredge (played by a constantly baffled and bemused David Seadon-Young).
When her charismatic ex-husband Dexter Haven (Julian Ovenden) and two undercover journalists (Freddie Fox and Carly Mercedes Dyer) turn up – as well as a constantly drunk wedding planner Uncle Willie (Nigel Lindsay) and Tracy’s philandering father (Malcolm Sinclair) – the scene is set for chaos and confusion. No wonder Tracy is having pre-wedding nerves and wondering if she is doing the right thing.
Mistaken identities abound as the story turns into a comedy of manners with the well-heeled Mother Lord (Josefina Gabrielle) trying her best to maintain the family’s reputation and hold on to some dignity.
But the revelation of the first half for me was Naomi Pacquette as Dinah Lord, the wiser-than-her-years younger sister of the bride. She had some sarcastic and caustic comments about the groom and dispensed plenty of worldly advice.
And I haven’t even mentioned the music and lyrics by Cole Porter including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
The first half ends with a high-tempo routine with a jazz band on stage. The musicians were drawn from the orchestra pit below and it was nice to see them recognised in full for their performance.
The second half starts in equally pacy fashion with journalist Mike and Dexter enjoying the “swell party” singing Let’s Misbehave.
Then Freddie Fox displays his amazing singing and dancing ability as he lightly and elegantly captures the key pivot point in the plot as Mike sings You’re Sensational to a drunken Tracy.
After that, the production seemed to drag – and sag – a little despite the multi-layered “he loves her but she loves him” elements. Until there was a huge lift as journalist/photographer Liz (Carly Mercedes Dyer) sang I've Got You Under My Skin (another Cole Porter song but from the film Born to Dance rather than High Society) to reveal where her romantic intentions lay.
The heartwarming feelgood vibes continue with an ensemble version of Let’s Fall in Love as a wedding eventually takes place.
Helen George sparkles, Freddie Fox glides and the entire production radiates warmth and brightness, glitz and glamour.
It was even darker and damper when the audience left the theatre but it didn’t matter. Everyone’s spirits had been lifted by this lavish production. High Society is the perfect way to banish the November gloom.
:: The show runs at the Congress Theatre until Saturday 14 November. Tickets available here
:: Paul Bromley is a member of the performers’ union Equity. He is a volunteer writer with Eastbourne Reporter. Paul is a qualified journalist and broadcaster who worked for 40 years for regional newspapers, the Press Association and Sky News. He now works in community rail.
