High Society set to swing at Hayes

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This was published 8 years ago

High Society set to swing at Hayes

By Elissa Blake

Not all the guests are invited but parties don't come much more swell than the one thrown on the eve of the second marriage of socialite Tracy Lord in the Cole Porter musical, High Society.

All the best people in a silver-tail enclave are expected to make an appearance, including (to the bride's chagrin) Tracy's ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven, the noted jazz composer and amateur yachtsman. Add stiff drinks, stir with memorable songs (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, True Love, Well, Did You Evah?) and quotable quips and you have a party to remember – unless, you are Tracy. During the play, she drinks so much she can't remember anything – including what happened after she took a late-night swim with a man she met just a few hours previously.

High Society's Bobby Fox and Amy Lehpamer are ready to party.

High Society's Bobby Fox and Amy Lehpamer are ready to party.Credit: Steven Siewert

Thanks to the 1956 Hollywood movie featuring Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly, High Society is one of the best known musicals of its period. It's also one of a rare breed of musical that was a movie long before it was a stage show. The Broadway version didn't appear until 1986, 30 years later.

Bobby Fox, who plays the inquisitive Spy Magazine reporter Mike in the coming Hayes Theatre Company production of High Society, says he's steering clear of the original film and Sinatra's template for the role. "I never like to look at other people's interpretations of a character, even his," Fox says. "Everything I need is on the page, and the rest I'll find in the rehearsal room, bouncing off the other actors. It would be pointless to try and imitate Frank Sinatra."

Bert LaBonte is the jazz-loving, wealthy C.K. Dexter Haven.

Bert LaBonte is the jazz-loving, wealthy C.K. Dexter Haven.

For company, Fox has Bert LaBonte​ (as C.K. Dexter Haven), Amy Lehpamer​ (Tracy) and Virginia Gay as Spy photographer Liz. The role of the jazz-loving, wealthy Haven is a "great fit", says LaBonte, who is relishing the colour-blind casting. "In the 1930s or '40s, there is no way this character would be coloured. But the producers contacted me saying they wanted someone masculine and cheeky who could sing in the jazz style, and I was the first person they thought of. I am pumped.

"The music in this show is swinging. Cole Porter stands the test of time and these songs are a joy to sing."

Lehpamer comes to High Society from playing Janet in the national tour of The Rocky Horror Show and will play Maria in The Sound of Music later this year. "This show is a different kind of challenge," she says. "Working in a theatre as small as the Hayes is almost like being viewed in HD. Every little choice can be seen. I think it will be wonderful to do a comedy in that space, and sense the immediacy of the audience as the jokes roll out."

High Society is famous for its songs but in some ways it's closer to a play with songs than a full-blown musical, Lehpamer says. "I've never had a role with so much scene work. But I love the challenge of working with all that text, particularly at the pace it needs to be delivered to achieve the comedy, and sparring with Bert and Bobby is completely wonderful. We have terrific scenes together, and I get serenaded by the pair of them."

High Society plays from September 4 to October 3 at Hayes Theatre Company, Potts Point; $59-$99, hayestheatre.com.au.

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