Review: High Society, Sheffield Lyceum

But, that doesn’t apply to ‘High Society,’ dubbed “the feel-good musical of the season,” which is on at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre until this Saturday (15th June).

Many will remember this glitzy and glamorous story from the classic 1956 film version which paired Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in a line-up which also included Grace Kelly and Louis Armstrong, a winning combination that only added to Cole Porter’s enduring music and lyrics.

That movie, and this winning touring production from the team behind ‘The King and I,’ is set in the USA amid the sprawling mansion of the Lord family in late 1930s Long Island where spoilt brat Tracy (Sophie Bould) is planning her latest, lavish wedding.

That’s until her near-neighbour, and ex-husband Dexter Haven (Michael Praed from ‘Robin of Sherwood’ and ‘The Sound of Music’) gate-crashes the proceedings, hotly pursued by a headline-grabbing reporter Mike Connor (Daniel Boys) and his snap-happy photographer Liz Imbrie (Alex Young) in search of scandal and a front page scoop.

Strong support in all this wheeling and dealing was provided by Marilyn Cutts as the matriach Margaret Lord, and Teddy Kempner (‘Acorn Antiques the Musical’) as the larger-than-life Uncle Willie.

Added to this big-name line-up is, of course, Cole Porter’s showcase of show-stopping musical masterpieces such as ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’, ‘What is This Thing Called Love?’, ‘Well, Did You Evah?’ and ‘True Love.’

For further details of ticket prices (£19 to £34) and showtimes contact the Lyceum box office on 0114 249 6000 or online at www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk