There is a swell party going on at the Theatre Royal all this week.

The fact is, it is one of the swellest and most elegant parties I have ever attended and you will kick yourself if you miss it.

It is, of course, Cole Porter's superb musical, High Society, based on Phillip Barry's play The Philadelphia Story.

The film of High Society was Grace Kelly's farewell to the big screen and also featured the famous duet sung by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.

In this adaptation, as the champagne cork pops and the singing and dancing begins, you will forget all your troubles and marvel at what is laid out before you.

The story puts us in the grounds of the wealthy Lord family of Oyster Bay, Long Island. Tracy Lord (Katharine Kingsley) is about to begin her second marriage, to the dependable but dull George (Bryan Torfeh). But ex-husband Bexter (Graham Bickley) is still hanging around as are her family and two writers for a salacious gossip magazine looking for scandal.

Kingsley is superb as the wealthy but unhappy Tracy. This is a musical theatre actress of great beauty and with a voice to die for.

But this is Cole Porter's show, with 15 of his best songs. Porter was the master of the deft phrase and the witty one-liner, with music which could be rousing, poignant and haunting.

From the opening title song sung by a chorus line of adult chambermaids right through to the end, the songs come thick and fast, defying anyone not to tap their feet.

With great numbers like Let's Misbehave, Just One of Those Things, Well Did You Evah? and It's Alright With Me, you have the best soundtrack of all time.

Watch out for a hilarious version of I Love Paris, sung by Tracy and her sister, (Diani Polver) and the smash hit Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

The set is wonderful to the eye, dressed mainly on black and white, most of the colours being supplied by the women's dresses. And the choreography is as smooth as cream with lots of high kicks, swirling skirts, and black stockings.

A high energy, five-star show to keep you warm in this rainy first week of the autumn.