My Fair Lady

Early on in the development of this production I asked “Who will be playing Eliza Doolittle?” The answer came back that it was Dani. As a massive fan of the supremely talented Danae Larham, I just assumed that they meant her - and that is how it was left for many weeks. Then on a visit to the Angles Theatre for another (there is always another) production, I heard a ‘My Fair Lady’ rehearsal taking place and nipped upstairs to say hello and here was another Dani ….. Shippey (used to be Beare) singing ‘All I Want’. I was confused for about 5 minutes before I realised what was going on. At that point I became deeply concerned. This Dani had not really taken a lead before … I racked my brain to think what major parts of any sort were in her CV …. and came up blank! So here I was (my pre-show Peroni having mysteriously evaporated) taking my seat for Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s evergreen classic musical, My Fair Lady, a little worried… The story surely needs no re-telling but, if you have let this one pass you by over the 50 or more years it has been around, it’s really quite simple. Misogynist bully and Pheneticist, Professor Henry Higgins, takes in working-class cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to prove to his new friend, Colonel Pickering, that he is such an accomplished tutor he can take the girl and pass her off at a royal ball as a member of the aristocracy in just a few weeks. There are highs, lows and, of course, he pulls it off. However, he has inadvertently fallen in love with her and she with him. It all ends up happily enough although one can easily see an acrimonious divorce some ten years down the line! The set (design by Robert Williams, construction by Phil Griggs, Gary Johnson and Steve Cawthorne and scenic embellishment by Robert Williams and Mathilde Tranter) was not at all what I was expecting. Completely unspectacular and rather bland. However, this was actually something else I got completely wrong as it turned out to be the perfect backdrop to everything that took place. It cleverly managed to be the market square, the Higgins study, Ascot and a number of other things whilst also having interesting nooks and cranny’s for people to slip on and off through. My apologies great Williams ….. this was a brilliant set! Lighting (design and execution by Jonathan Salmon) and sound (design and operation by Robert Williams … he does gets about, doesn’t he) were all spot on. So perfect in fact, I can’t remember anything about them … which is the highest accolade I can give. Costumes (Gay Hoyle and Geraldine Moment) were amazing. Plenty of them and looking perfect. Hair and Make up (Dame Kerry Shippey who else) were a triumph and perfectly accessorised the costumes. Sometimes … just sometimes …. I am a little concerned that the considerable output of this group puts a strain on participation. These leads to another concern that sometimes…. the casts get a bit small. Not a bit of that going on here, with a vast array of performers singing, dancing and speaking with Cockney/Chelsea accents. The chorus were called company in the programme and that is only fair. They worked tirelessly throughout and with some simply wonderful choreography from Cynthia Maxey, filled the stage almost continuously. This was some of the best RATz dancing I have seen here, with quantity, quality and every step looking perfectly appropriate and well within the ability of the person attempting it. In the supporting roles, Christopher Moment was omnipresent … and never better than as Professor Zoltan Karparthy. A lovely comic characterisation from a really nice guy who seemed to be enjoying himself! Young Aiden Wallace is always a joy. This time as local Cockney, Jamie, alongside Liam Nixon as Harry. The pair of them managed a lot of other stuff as well but these are the parts attributed to them in the programme. Gay Hoyle was on top form as Matriarch, Mrs Higgins ,with good support from Cynthia Maxey and Curtis McMullan as Mrs and Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Every time I see a production of MFL … I always (always) come away with the same thought. The most important character in the show is that of the Higgins housekeeper, Mrs Pearce. She has to display so many characteristics and moderate and mediate between Higgins, Eliza, Pickering and Freddy Eynsford-Hill - the whole show really does hang on her! Fortunately for this cast, Rachel Shepherd was perfection. Soft, hard and bewildered, all delivered effortlessly, and to a very high standard. Mrs Pearce and Mrs Shepherd get a paragraph to themselves as I no longer know if the part is supporting or more prominent. In those additionally significant parts it was interesting seeing the thoroughly nice Josh Shippey acting his age up for a change. As philanderer and well intentioned ne’er-do-well, Alfred P. Doolittle, Mr Shippey (Junior) acted, sang and danced his socks off. In truth, I still felt he looked too young, but it wasn’t important. The same can actually be said of the nicest man in Wisbech, Jamie Cook, who played the nicest man in the show, Colonel Pickering. Mr Cook may have been a long way from the 70 plus years attributed to the Colonel, but he made a nice job of doddering old/young buffoon. Just like the last Pickering I saw he couldn’t get a laugh out of the ‘Pline Cyke’ ….. It is beginning to look like only Richard Abel can! A good performance from an improving actor. I have seen Kevin Shippey play this part before. In fact, I saw Kevin Shippey in this part 5 times in a run of 5 performances at the Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn a few years back. The circumstances resulting in that eventuality are unimportant but I do remember vividly that the lines spoken by Professor Higgins during that run were vastly different each night. This may have been a much more compact presentation than that, but I actually felt that Mr Shippey (Senior) looked more self-assured that he did back in the day. A good showing from a very hard working performer. Now, can someone pass me the humble pie …? I need to ingest a large amount. I am so sorry Danielle Shippey for ever doubting you. Your performance was magnificent and your perceived lack of experience was no obstacle at all. A superb characterisation showing Eliza as soft and sweet when she needed to be and as hard as nails at most other times. Your singing voice was enchanting and you have a smile that can light up most of Cambridgeshire. This was a quality performance from a much under-rated(at least by me) performer. Penultimate paragraph honours are yours Mrs Shippey (junior … no wait) no-one else was in the frame! My hat is off completely and laid on the stage at the feet of Director, Robert Williams. This title carries a lot of expectational baggage and all the pre-requisite boxes were well and truly ticked with a little innovation thrown in along the way as well. Technical direction could not be faulted and it all looked extraordinarily tidy and under control. I have already mentioned the choreography by Cynthia Maxey, but I must just emphasise once more how very good it was, both in conception and delivery. The same is true of the prodigiously talented Marie Cunningham, once again reprising her role as Musical Director. Just herself and Jane Missin in the pit … and a few keyboard enhancements I suspect. It sounded great. It always does. Bravo RATz. I tend to think of you as taking on the small shows and making them big but this has proved beyond reasonable doubt that you can also do the classics, and do them rather well!

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