Details

For our spring 2003 production, we had chosen "HIGH SOCIETY" based on the play "The Philadelphia Story" by Philip Barry.

This show was produced and directed by Christophe Lerche. His talented team was also run by Christine Meyerhans as Executive Producer.

High Society takes us back to the late 1930s in a rich East Coast American family. Elder daughter Tracy, is getting ready to marry her 2nd husband, the staid and proper George. When the ex-husband appears on the scene, everyone starts to misbehave. It's a classic love story, with some hilarious twists and turns.

The story may be traditional, but this show was not. Elegant but a little wild, it became a Golden Age piece where reality was mixed with some uncertain delirium!

The Casino théâtre offered creative staging options with the possibility of flying sets. In the background we could see servants in the upper-crust Lord Household, and even scene changes turned into dance numbers!

Now the show is off and we are pleased to offer you some souvenirs:

FOH1 : Act I scene 2 - Tracy and chorus in Tracy's bedroom : "Ridin' High".

FOH2: Act I scene 3 -Margaret Lord, Tracy, Uncle Willie, Dinah and the butlers at the breakfast in the veranda.

FOH3: Act I scene 3 - "Throwing a Ball Tonight".

FOH4: Act scene 3 - Dexter joins the Lord's family for breakfast.

FOH5: Act I scene 4 - Dexter and Dinah in the nursery: "Little One".

FOH6: Act I scene 5 - Arrival of the reporters, Mike Connor and Liz Imbrie: "Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire?"

FOH7: Act I scene 6 - Dinah, Tracy, Liz and Mike in the South Parlor: "I Love Paris".

FOH8: Act I scene 7 - The reporters join Margaret Lord in the Pavilion for hors d'oeuvres.

FOH9: Act I scene 8 - Mike near the swimming-pool.

FOH10: Act I scene 8 - Tracy: "True Love".

FOH11: Act II scene 2 - Tracy and George Kitteredge at the ballroom: "Let's Misbehave".

FOH12: Act II scene 2 - "Let's Misbehave!"

FOH13: Act II scene 2 - "Let's Misbehave!"

FOH14: Act II scene 2 - Liz and Uncle Willie: "I'm Getting Myself Ready for You".

FOH15: Act II scene 2 - Liz and Uncle Willie: "I'm Getting Myself Ready for You".

FOH16: Act II scene 2 - The exhausted staff is cleaning: "Dadada"...

FOH17: Act II scene 3 - At Dexter's house.

FOH 18: Act II scene 4 - The staff: "Well Did You Evah!"

FOH 19: Act II scene 4 - Liz and Tracy hide from their pursuers: "Well Did You Evah!"

FOH 20: Act II scene 5 - Tracy and Mike in the wooded grounds: "You're Sensational".

FOH21: Act II scene 5 - Uncle Willie to Dexter: "Say It With Gin".

FOH 22: Act II scene 7 - George, Dexter, Mike and Tracy at the Lord's pool.

FOH 23: Act II scene 8 - The terrace, the wedding day - Uncle Willie to the butler: "You can even speak lower".

FOH24: Act II scene 8 - Argument - George to Mike: "You mean you knew her before?"

FOH 25: Act II scene - Margaret to Tracy: "And that means: you cannot marry him!"

Synopsis

Act One begins with the Household Staff's ode to the privileged life (High Society). Enter Tracy Samantha Lord, ecstatic about her impending marriage to George Kittredge (Ridin' High). She joins her sister Dinah, her mother Margaret and her absent-minded Uncle Willie for breakfast. Dinah taunts Tracy about her last marriage to C.K. Dexter Haven, who happens to be their neighbour. Uncle Willie seems to have forgotten about the soiree he is supposed to throw for Tracy on the eve of her wedding (Throwing a ball tonight). Dexter bounds in and informs the family that unless Tracy agrees to be photographed by two reporters from a rag magazine, they will print a story about Tracy's estranged father, who is carrying on a scandalous affair with an exotic dancer. Dinah, meanwhile, asks Dexter if he has any plans to save Tracy from the dreadfully boring George (Little One). The reporters, Mike Connor and Liz Imbrie arrive (Who wants to be a Millionaire?) Dinah and Tracy greet them, acting strangely (I Love Paris). "Inbreeding", mutters Mike to Liz.
Tracy makes them believe that her father, who is not around, is actually Uncle Willie. He tells them all about the woman "papa" has had an affair with (She's Got That Thing). Enter Seth Lord, the real father, soon passed off to the reporters as Uncle Willie! Tracy asks George if he really loves her and he replies that he worships her (I Worship You). She confronts her father and he accuses her of being a cold woman, as had Dexter once before (Once Upon a Time). Dexter appears in his house, and together (but unaware of each other), they sing their love duet, which is also the name of the ship the couple had built (True Love).
Act Two begins at Tracy's wedding ball (High Society). Tracy, drinking too much champagne, teases George and leads the guests in a rousing chorus (Let's Misbehave). Liz, meanwhile, is attempting to escape the amorous advances of Uncle Willie (I'm Getting Ready For You). Back at his house, Dexter pines for Tracy (Just One of Those Things). In the kitchen, Tracy and Liz hide from their respective pursuers - George and Uncle Willie (Well, Did You Evah?). Tracy wanders outside and runs into Mike, who extols her virtues (You're Sensational). Tracy, dazed, invites him to skinny-dip with her in the pool. Uncle Willie meets up with Dexter and shares a bit of advice on winning Tracy back (Say It With Gin). Tracy, waiting by the pool, laments her situation (It's All Right With Me). Liz, meanwhile, tells Dexter about her affection for Mike (He's a Right Guy). George then witnesses Mike carrying Tracy up to her room and assumes the worst.
The morning of the wedding dawns........but to find out the end of the story, you will have to come and see it!

Cast

Production Team

Contacts

For further information please contact Christophe Lerche at christophe.lerche@freesurf.ch or Christine Meyerhans at cric@gmx.ch