Review: HIGH SOCIETY, Barbican Theatre
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
The much-loved 1956 film High Society, starring Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, is brought to the Barbican Theatre for a strictly limited summer run, packed with exquisite dances, memorable musical numbers, and plenty of comedy.
Following the story of Tracy Lord in the lead up to her wedding (played by Helen George of Call the Midwife fame), chaos ensues with the arrival of undercover reporters, unexpected appearances from family members, a tangled trio of suitors…and plenty of champagne. Rachel Kavanaugh’s production promises you a night dripping in luxury and laughter.
One of the core pillars of Kavanaugh’s production of High Society is the comedic timing and hilarious characterisations, contributing to a constant laugh track from the audience throughout the show. The dialogue itself, for the most part, promises plenty of humour, and performers like Felicity Kendal as Mother Lord establish themselves firmly in this genre, right from the first moment she enters the stage and particularly when introducing their family to reporters Liz and Mike for the first time. The more sensitive moments of the show are occasionally the weaker ones in terms of character depth, direction and pacing, leaving audiences hungry for more full cast scenes where the ensemble truly has a chance to dazzle us and light up the stage once again.
Tom Rogers provides a truly exquisite set design that shows off the wealth and flashy nature of the Lord family so audiences are instantly at the heart of the party. There is so much attention to detail with the set, particularly the swimming pool and the gloriously large tree dazzling with fairy lights. Fanciness at its finest, with a glamorously grand appeal that is never at risk of veering on tacky.
One of the highlights of the show is the Act One finale, ‘Now You Have Jazz’. Anthony Van Laast’s choreography is breathtaking, and this number does it the most justice, particularly mixed with strong vocals and impressive instrumental flair from the musicians onstage. The party atmosphere truly radiates from stage to auditorium, and the cast are seen to be dancing even after the curtain closes, allowing us to enter the interval with toe-tapping charm. The ensemble is stellar throughout and this is truly their pivotal moment to show us how much their talents shine.
Although the characters of Liz Imbrie (Carly Mercedes Dyer) and Dinah Lord (Naomi Pacquette) have considerably less stage time than the other leads, they are two of the most dynamic performers to watch. Mercedes Dyer captures all of the nuances of Liz Imbrie, she is simultaneously hilarious in interactions with Uncle Willie whilst also showing the strongest sense of emotional depth and a sense of desperation compared to other performers, particularly throughout her solo ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’. Her rich voice is guaranteed to give you goosebumps throughout this song and her character arc is truly fantastic. Pacquette is relatively new to the scene but is certainly a talent to watch. Her characterisation and mannerisms for the mischievous Dinah are spot on throughout, she is a dynamic ball of energy with plenty of nuance and flair.
This production promises you a party, and on that it certainly delivers. If you are looking for a summer rom com that will make you alternate between dancing in your seats and laughing out loud, this is the show for you.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Heidi Downing
