High Society

Written by Cole Porter, Arthur Kopit and Susan Birkenhead
Based on The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry
Directed by Matthew Prince
Presented by Centre Stage London

Style counts for everything in Cole Porter's champagne-fuelled comedy of corking songs and fizzing one-liners. Pretentious Long Island socialite Tracy Lord is planning a June 1938 wedding to an equally pretentious executive when ex-husband Dexter Haven arrives to disrupt the proceedings. Additional comic complications arise when tabloid reporter Mike Connor, who is there to cover the wedding, also falls for the bride-to-be. The score's songs were compiled from various Porter musicals; in some instances, updated or new lyrics were provided by Susan Birkenhead.