There is something wonderfully old fashioned about High Society. Cole Porter songs, glamorous parties, complicated romances, plenty of laughs and a live orchestra. This is classic musical theatre, and sometimes that is exactly what you want from a night at the Grand Opera House.
Based on the play The Philadelphia Story, and probably best known from the 1956 film starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, High Society follows Tracy Lord as she prepares for her wedding.
Of course, things don’t exactly go to plan.
An ex husband, a couple of unexpected reporters and a few romantic complications make sure there is plenty happening before anyone gets near the altar.
The whole production has a traditional musical theatre feel. There are big voices, great costumes, lots of movement and plenty of fun along the way.
And then there is the music.
Cole Porter’s songs include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, True Love, Well, Did You Evah! and You’re Sensational, and having a live orchestra in the theatre makes them even better.
From our seats we could see the conductor at work in the pit, which is always fascinating to watch and a reminder of how much is happening beyond what you see on stage.
One of our favourite parts comes towards the end of the first act with a brilliant jazz sequence. It lifts the energy of the whole show and is a great way to head into the interval.
There are plenty of laughs too. The audience were clearly enjoying themselves, with the jokes and increasingly complicated relationships getting some of the biggest reactions of the night.
Something that actually happened before the show even started caught our attention.
With the partial solar eclipse happening over Belfast that evening, members of the cast appeared at the stage door in their dressing gowns to watch it before the performance. It was a lovely sight. A group of performers about to head on stage for all the glamour of High Society, standing outside the Grand Opera House in their dressing gowns looking up at the Belfast sky.
Then it was back inside for the show in 20 minutes time.
High Society doesn’t need to reinvent musical theatre. That’s really part of its charm. It’s a chance to sit back, enjoy some great Cole Porter songs, hear a live orchestra and have a good laugh along the way.
Glorious, glamorous and full of fun.
At the Grand Opera House Belfast until 15th August 2026
Review tickets were provided by the Grand Opera House.
