The Philadelphia Story

If you want style, The Philadelphia Story has oodles of it. The Lords' country home near Philadelphia is a symphony in subtle shades of white, grey and black with costumes to match, thanks to absolutely gorgeous designs by Monika Nisbet.

The acting is equally stylish. As the preparations near completion for Tracy Lord's (second) wedding, this 1939 play is revealed as an American romantic comedy that's a Transatlantic cousin to Noel Coward's Private Lives. As in the later play the second partner is a self-righteous bore and the re-appearance of husband number one causes much brittle bickering. The added complication is a newspaper reporter. Too much champagne drunk by both he and Tracy make a night-time swim seem the most romantic thing on earth.

John Durnin's flowing production never allows the pace to drop so that, in spite of their shallow brittleness, we really care how it all works out for the bride to be and which man, if any, she ends up married to.

Elizabeth Nestor shows us a strong-minded young woman, more than prepared to stand up for herself when she can remember what actually happened. It's a lovely performance, wonderful when drunk and superb during her hungover wedding morning.

Gavin Kean is good as the first husband but slightly outshone by Greg Powrie's sanctimonious bore and Rorie Murray's love-lorn reporter. Joanne Cummins is delectable as little sister Dinah whose interference sets the complications in motion.

Accents and attitudes are perfectly in character from the whole ensemble and ensure that this elegant production is a romantic and comedic treat.