Le monde des musicals

Based on the Philip Barry play The Philadelphia Story and the musical screen adaptation it inspired, High Society, the plot centers on pretentious Long Island socialite Tracy Lord, who 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.

Broadway
The musical had a try-out in San Francisco in 1997.

The musical premiered on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on April 27, 1998 and closed on August 30, 1998 after 144 performances and 27 previews. Directed by Christopher Renshaw, the cast included Stephen Bogardus (Macaulay Conner), Melissa Errico (Tracy), Daniel McDonald (Dexter), John McMartin (Uncle Willie), Randy Graff, Lisa Banes, Marc Kudisch, Betsy Joslyn and a 12-year-old Anna Kendrick. Sets were by Loy Arcenas, costumes were by Jane Greenwood, and lighting was by Howell Binkley. Des McAnuff was "brought in during the show's troubled tryout period" and is uncredited. Lar Lubovitch is credited as the choreographer, with Wayne Cilento uncredited

Ben Brantley, in his review for The New York Times, wrote: "...spirits are definitely high in 'High Society,' which stars a sadly misused Melissa Errico, but they also feel forced and even desperate. The show, first seen in a tepidly received version in San Francisco, has since undergone drastic retailoring. And it ominously shed its director and choreographer of record, Christopher Renshaw and Lar Lubovitch, during New York rehearsals, with Des McAnuff and Wayne Cilento stepping in to make last-minute revisions. Perhaps that accounts for the feverish, at-sea quality that seems to possess the show's team of talented, proven performers. The production's guiding rule appears to be to do whatever is necessary to land a joke or to sell a song... Numbers that should bubble with dry effervescence are more likely to come across as a thick ferment of suds."

London
A rather more successful West End production opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre on February 25, 1987 and ran for 420 performances. It starred Trevor Eve (Dexter), Stephen Rea (Mike), Angela Richards (Liz), Natasha Richardson (Tracy) and Ronald Fraser (Uncle Willie); the director was Richard Eyre.

On October 1, 2005, a West End revival starring Katherine Kingsley (Tracy Lord), Graham Bickley (Dexter Haven), Paul Robinson (Mike) and Jerry Hall (Mrs. Lord) opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre. This was based on the 2003 Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park production and subsequent tour. These productions were directed by Ian Talbot OBE. Tracie Bennett played Liz in the Open Air Theatre production and stole the show, according to The Guardian critic.

Act I
"High Society"
"Ridin' High"
"Throwing a Ball Tonight"
"Little One"
"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
"I Love Paris"
"She's Got That Thing"
"Once Upon a Time"
"True Love"

Act II
"High Society" (Reprise)
"Let's Misbehave"
"I'm Getting Myself Ready for You"
"Once Upon a Time" (Reprise)
"Just One of Those Things"
"Well, Did You Evah!"
"You're Sensational"
"Say It With Gin"
"Ridin' High"
"It's All Right With Me"
"He's a Right Guy"
"I Love You, Samantha"
"True Love" (Reprise)

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant High Society