THE time is a glorious Saturday morning in June 1958; the place, Seth Lord's waterfront estate, at Oyster Bay, in swanky Newport, Rhode Island.

The musical is a Cole Porter classic, the one with Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra in MGM's 1956 film version.

So, High Society makes an excellent choice of summertime show for York Light Opera Society's 50th anniversary celebrations. Never mind the hot weather and long light June nights, Bev Jones's romping, high-spirited production deserves big houses through the week.

A glinting summer light plays on the swimming pool panels, the Fifties dresses flow prettily - why are dresses so out of fashion now? - and high society is madly at play.

Society darling Tracy Samantha Lord (York Light newcomer Sophie Urquhart) is to marry snobbish George Kittredge (Rick Green), the dullest man in the world, on the morrow. Mother Lord (Charmaine Fenton) has 500 party guests on her mind; absent-minded Uncle Willie (Geoffrey Turner) has his thoughts on the next glass.

Tracy's precious little sister, Dinah (Rachel Morley, in her first principal role), is thinking longingly of Dexter (Neville Maw), Tracy's despised first husband, who has newly arrived aboard the show-off ship True Love, ostensibly to organise a jazz party in his neighbouring house.

Meanwhile, a pair of reporters from the scandal rag Spy, Mike Connor (Martin Richardson) and Liz Imbrie (Ann Kelly), will be attending the wedding, masquerading as guests. They have been invited by Dexter as the only way to stop Spy revealing that Seth Lord (Rory Mulvihill) is philandering with dancer Tina Mara.

So the path of true love will run anything but straight in a wedding weekend of increasing chaos, orchestrated with a lively wit by director, musical director and choreographer Bev Jones. The dialogue has plenty of zip like a Wimbledon tennis rally; the costumes are a constant joy; the lighting suitably summer bright; and the set-piece songs all hit the mark, each given bags of character by the principals and staff ensemble.

Geoffrey Turner has a ball in both She's Got That Thing and, in particular, the clothes-shredding I'm Getting Myself Ready For You with Ann Kelly. Sophie Urquhart plays Let's Misbehave to the max and shines in the moonlit ballads too; and Rick Green (despite that too-modern beard) pulls off the difficult feat of dancing badly brilliantly.

Mike Connor is to the Fifties elegant acting manner born; Rachel Morley has abundant stage personality; and the warm timbre of Maw's singing is a pleasure throughout. High times indeed.

Box office: 01904 623568

Updated: 15:58 Wednesday, June 25, 2003