My Fair Lady

The story of My Fair Lady, based on the play written by George Bernard Shaw, is iconic as a musical whether having seen the film staring Rex Harrison and Audry Hepburn or this the stage version.

The show opened on Broadway in 1956. This was followed in 1958 by opening at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane on London’s West End staring Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews and Stanley Holloway.

Despite the shows popularity this was the first time in the societies 78 years history they have performed this show.  

Prior to the overture members of the ensemble started to fill the stage setting the scene at Covent Garden forming groups and keeping warm around the fire with the sound of a rather persistent horse trotting by. 

Molly Parmenter as Eliza Dolittle was delightful and believable as the Cockney flower seller as well as her attempts before coming a lady. Molly was both expressive and animated throughout from ‘Aoooooow’ to ‘How nice of you to let me come’. Eliza has one of the most well-known lines in musical theatre ‘Come on Dover! move your bloomin’ arse’ and she delivered this with relish as the audience all waited to hear it! Molly had a wonderful voice singing amongst others, ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly’, ‘I Could Have Danced all Night’ and ‘Just You Wait’.

Reece Jones as Henry Higgins, who studies phonetics, gave a strong and flawless performance making the character his own. His musical numbers were clear and well delivered even if some elements are questionable in a modern society such as ‘A Hymn to Him’ (Why Can’t a Woman be More Like a Man).

Scott Denton, Colonel Pickering a fellow phonetics expert who travelled from India to see Higgins, played a great foil to him as a typical English gentleman who was at times ‘dashed’ by the goings on.

Darren Richards, as larger than life Alfred P. Dolittle having sold his daughter for £5.00 only to go on to inherit a large annual income, played the role with great spirit (in more ways than one). Dolittle is aided and abetted by Harry and Jamie played by Julian Richards and Chris Paine who brought some good harmony to ‘With a Little Bit of Luck’.

Alex Thompson played a wonderfully flamboyant Freddy Eynsford-Hill who immediately fell for Eliza. His rendition of ‘On the Street Where You Live’ was joyful.

Emma Parker as the slightly snobby Edwardian Housekeeper Mrs Pearce had the right amount of compassion for Eliza while trying to keep Higgins in order!

Alison Ashcroft as Mrs Higgins showed her frustration at having Henry Higgins as a son perfectly! I liked the way her character ends up on the side of Eliza!

All supporting roles were nicely played by ensemble members of the cast. The ensemble were energetic where required in the scenes in Covent Garden and outside the pub, while showing decorum at other times such as when servants or the upper class at Ascot.

The set was simplistic however very effective; with a cast of 33 on a small stage it had to be. The library was good and generally allowed the cast to move around it. Outside scenes such as Ascot and Mrs Higgins’s were functional. I especially liked (again simplistic) the front door used for the scene when Freddie seeks out Eliza and the penultimate scene. A raised level upstage was well used. This was set in front of a screen to provide projection which was suitable to the scene taking place.

Costumes were by and large good and in keeping with the time (1912 therefore during the reign of George V). The costumes for Ascot were lovely and worn with elegance by many members of the ensemble. The men’s grey tails and hats were good with black and white trimmings such as around the hat and ties and hankies.  The costumes worn by Eliza were beautiful and graced the stage.

There were a few technical hiccups on the opening night regarding radio mic and effects which I am sure will have been addressed by the time of the second performance. 

My Fair Lady is a long show but the evening flew by. This means the evening for me was enjoyable, a sentiment shared by a very appreciate audience on opening night.

Congratulations to all involved with the production including director (Jill Parmenter), Choreographer (Emily Hamer) and musical director (Russell Painter) and his small but perfectly formed band, who provided a good quality sound.

Thank you for the invite and I look forward to more from Carpet Trades next year.

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