My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady is a well-known classic tale based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and Music by Frederick Loewe. The story portrays the transformation of a cockney flower girl, under the tutelage of Professor Henry Higgins, to be able to pass as a lady. Being a popular show many of the musical songs are sing along numbers for the audience.

The stage was set up with a white backdrop which was successfully lit with different colours during the show. The scenery was very cleverly constructed with many items being double sided and used to create a variety of scenes. These scene changes were effortlessly managed by the stage crew and members of the cast, who also added and removed the authentic props you had sourced. I also noticed that often some of the members of Professor Higgins staff went around after the changes and ensured items were in their correct place and excellent idea.

The choreographed chorus numbers during the show were as I expected with your talented choreographer all were well rehearsed and enthusiastically performed by the members of your cast. It was great to see the variety from the more down to earth cockney scenes to the more elegant Gavot. Congratulations.

The costumes were authentic to the period and well fitting, although I did think that some of those involved in the street market scenes did appear a little clean and I would have like to have seen real top hats at Ascot but, I’m also aware of the cost of them.  I especially liked the elegant black and white Ascot outfits and Freddie’s attire.

The music for this show was provided by a backing track which was set at an acceptable level by Dymond Audio and ensured that the show moved along at a set pace. The players had obviously spent time under your musical director practising the wide variety of songs which were performed with enthusiasm although there were a few little tuning issues at one point.

Your production team have worked hard to bring together an ensemble who endeavoured successfully to create individual characters on the stage. They were able to portray the different pockets of society within London with energy in the cockney scenes and the elegant sophistication of the upper classes.

The actor playing Eliza Doolittle created a warm likeable characterisation of the cockney flower seller and successfully changed into a refined lady. She took the audience with her on her journey and stayed in character throughout the show. Her accent was great and she interacted well with the other characters on the stage especially Professor Higgins. She had lovely vocals, danced well and adlibbed successfully when the necklace got stuck in her hair. I particularly enjoyed her delivery of ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly’ and ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’. One little point remember the fourth wall when performing in show with serious themes. A brilliant portrayal.

Professor Higgins is a complex part to successfully create but your player did a wonderful job. He played the cantankerous bachelor confidently with faultless dialogue and great stage presence. He delivered all the varying traits of the professor and I enjoyed his Rex Harrison speak singing delivery of his vocal numbers.  As mentioned, before he worked well with Eliza to cover the ‘necklace incident’ and the vulnerability he showed when he realised Eliza was important to him was palpable. Superb.

The third of the central characters was Colonel Pickering. Your performer created a softer, fun character which contrasted with the harshness of Higgins and complimented him in the more comic scenes. He showed his softer caring side with Eliza and delivered his text and songs confidently. Congratulations.

The other man in Eliza’s story is her dad Alfred P Doolittle a member of the ‘underserving poor.’ The player  created a believable performance with humour as the drunken ‘cockney’, although I’m not sure if he stayed in the correct area of London! He delivered his script well and had a useful flat cap at one point. He sang his well-known numbers “With a little bit of luck” and “Get me to the church on time” with conviction. He was ably supported by Harry and Jamie who steered him around the stage. 

Managing Professor Higgins household was Mrs Pearce. She created a well thought out character who showed her exasperation with the professor with his treatment of Eliza in Wimpole Street. She demonstrated kindness in a maternal way to Eliza and was able supported by the other members of staff.

The player enacting Mrs Higgins delivered a stylish, graceful performance with the correct accent. It was great to see her irritation with her son and the softening and caring of Eliza in the scene in the garden.

Eliza’s smitten suitor Freddy Eynsford-Hill was portrayed exceptionally by your cast member. His pursual of Eliza was determined and his vocal performances outstanding. Freddy’s mother Mrs Eynsford-Hill character was delivered with elegance.

The actor who played the hairy Hungarian Karparthy, in some rather horrifically comedic facial hair and wig which was slightly off putting, did so with feeling.

Congratulations to those in your company who played cameo roles and those in the ensemble. They all showed total commitment to the performance. It was evident from the audience’s reaction that the show was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Congratulations to all the members of your group both on and off stage.

 

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.