Reader Reviews
High Society (Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | High Society provides an evening of froth and glitz and this touring version with refreshingly high production values does justice to Cole Porter's score and witty lyrics and even manages to surmount the notorious acoustics at the Cliffs Pavilion. Based on The Philadelphia Story the convoluted plot sometimes disappears beneath the song and dance routines, but it's not much of a story and the characters are so shallow that it doesn't really matter. There is a large and mostly excellent cast, featuring a now rather stocky Daniel Boys and Sophie Bould stands out as the selfish but vulnerable Tracy Lord, highly comedic but singing beautifully especially on the classic True Love. - David Baxter | 22 May 13 |
| How can you possibly omit 'Well, Did you Ever' from a performance of High Society. The original film had this iconic tune sung by Bing Crosby and Bing Crosby and is probably the most memorable tune in the musical. I waited with baited breath after the interval for the scene in the library which never happened. In the first half there was a scene in the kitchen where the staff mustered a three verse apology song comtaining a chorus of 'Did you ever' which was not in the film. I was short changed and very angry as I took my daughter. I have regularly bored her with my own rendition of the song and now I have had to lend her the film to prove it was in it. Does the family of Cole Porter know what liberties this touring company have taken omitting the key song? I felt like asking for my money back but my daughter persuaded me to simply leave the theatre. Staging and scenery were brilliant. Tracey was good, the others were just passable, Very disappointing evening. - John Powell | 21 May 13 |
