The latest production at the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth is the ‘Philadelphia Story’. It was written in 1939 and revamped as the film ‘High Society’. This production naturally used the original script which is now suffering a little from age, with the first half being a very slightly tedious but more than compensated for by the excellent third act.

It was directed by Susan Lynch who managed to get superb performances from the whole cast. They should be applaud for keeping the pace moving along. Often with a large cast on the stage at one time the action can dry up.

The story is of a very rich daughter being married for the second time. It is the night before the wedding and a couple of reporters arrive to write a scandalous article for their magazine. Will they do it? What will happen at the marriage ceremony?

The curtains opened to a sumptuous set (as always at the Old Mill) which was cleverly designed to be changed from a quality lounge room scene, to a convincing courtyard setting in a couple of minutes. The crew worked silently, a pat on the back!

There were lots of laughs, good movement and the American accents all matched well – being of minimal nuisance factor. The play was presented in a well controlled normal family chit chat way. No over the top acting. The main character Tracy Lord played by Aimee Sanderson was brilliant and new comer Alison Kish who played her troublesome, annoying little sister was delightful.

Once again congratulations to all the cast and the techs. Very good lighting. Appropriate music.

The Old Mill has conquered the melting sauna heat of last year, if anything a touch too cold now. Some people are never happy!!

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