Classic tale's magic touch

Cole Porter's musicals have inevitably dated. But as Ian Talbot's buoyant production of High Society suggests, they retain an ageless, bittersweet appeal.

Porter betrays a sardonic wit, wistful romanticism and a conviction that while love may be the answer, it also raises painful questions. And the happy ending, with wife-to-be, Tracy, snatched away to remarry Dexter, her husband-who-was, manages to leave two other, would-be lovers disconsolate and an impression of passion's overwhelming power.

Although High Society was originally the Crosby-Sinatra-Kelly movie musical of 1956, its story-line derives from Philip Barry's Philadelphia Story in which Katharine Hepburn starred on stage and screen as Tracy, a mining heiress who has ruined one marriage and is poised to repeat the mistake with blue-collar George. Talbot's production is, though, fresh, being based upon Arthur Kopit's 1997 book, which interpolates a few extra Porter numbers.

Paul Farnsworth's rather basic set, with a long, white table the main prop, is hardly atmospheric. But the second half, in the nocturnal aftermath of Tracy's eve-of-marriage garden party, perfectly suits the Open Air setting. The tangles and turmoil of love involve not only Tracy, but two blackmailing gossip hacks, one (Hal Fowler) entrancing her and the other exciting libidinous Uncle Willie.

Porter's songs, particularly Let's Misbehave, Just One Of Those Things, I'm Getting Myself Ready For You and She's Got That Thing, enticingly pulsate with erotic longing and sly innuendo. Dale Rapley, as Tracy's first and still secretly smitten husband, is the only one to keep his cool and his distance as he elegantly mints bons mots and acts the appeaser.

The singing is not that accomplished, though the little band plays with spirit, and Tracie Bennett - as the journalist Liz, who fends off Brian Green's wonderful, sexually ravenous Uncle Willie - boasts a big, sweet voice. And Annette McLaughlin's tall, welltailored Tracy runs a fine gamut from alcoholic confusion to lust in the delectable It's All Right With Me. What a strangely poignant musical!

Until 13 September. Box office: 020 7935 4139.

High Society