My Fair Lady

Goole Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society gave a fabulous opening night of My Fair Lady at The Junction Theatre.  This beautiful musical was safe in the hands of Director William Knight, who along with MD Rachel Flynn had clearly worked their cast hard.

The cast were all on top form with some great principals, but also some very entertaining cameos from the ensemble who stayed in character throughout and looked to be having a wonderful time on stage not least during ‘Get Me To The Church On Time’ when they and Alfie Doolittle (Rob Barratt) were clearly having a having a ball!  Barrat played the work-shy dustman wonderfully.  He definitely had a comic glint in his eye and his interactions with his daughter Eliza were quite touching despite the characters neglectful approach to parenthood.  Benjamin O’Connor was confident and rather sweet in the role of Freddy Aynsford Hill managing to play the lovesick wannabe beau of Eliza with real conviction.  His ‘Street Where You Live’ was most enjoyable.  Amanda Andrews showed great comic timing in the role of Mrs Higgins, trying hard to put her son, Henry, on the right path with women.  Claire Brannan was well cast as housekeeper, Mrs Pearce.  A confident performance and super facial expressions in response to the many questionable comments of Higgins and Pickering.

Three younger members of the cast worked very hard in multiple roles Robert Broderick, Francis Garrod and Sam Tillotson – all great additions to the cast.  It’s also pleasing to note that Broderick and Garrod along with some members of the ensemble have come through the Junior Section showing the Societies commitment to investing in youth.

Matthew Hillam was super as Colonel Pickering delivering some great lines back at Higgins. His telephone sequences were very funny – it could almost be believed that someone was on the other end of the prop phone.  Higgins is a challenging character not least because those who love the film have in mind Rex Harrison who won an Oscar for the role.    However, Christopher Adamson brought his own Higgins to the stage and did so wonderfully.  With perfect delivery of many complex lines Adamson made the part his own giving it great pace and wonderful characterisation.  Ellie Brannan in the role of Eliza was most believable.  She really captured the vulnerability of the part and gave a great performance switching accents and moods from the flower-girls acerbic jibes to the high-class vocals of a society lady.  Brannan had beautiful reactions to what was going on around her.  When returning from the ball her eyes moved from Higgins to Pickering as they commended themselves on their success – a small potentially unnoticeable piece of action from a character upstage, but perfectly delivered.  Wonderful performances that Hillam, Adamson and Brannan should be most proud of.

Beautifully costumed, the cast worked well on the simple, but very effective set which had been designed and made locally by ‘Men in Sheds’.  The set pieces were moved on and off stage very efficiently by the stage crew and the props were all to a very high standard.

The sound was excellent and it was hugely impressive that the vast majority of the cast were not wearing individual mics, but projecting through speech and song.  Delivery was clear throughout and some of the narrative is complex so everyone should be highly commended on this.  Lighting design added to the atmosphere and the use of various exists and entrances by the cast was very well done to make the most of this performance space.

The show was dedicated Jean Tacey who played the role of Eliza in 1981 and it really demonstrates the family spirit of GAODS because the role in this production is taken by Ellie Brannan is her granddaughter who was joined on stage by her mother Claire Brannan as Mrs Pearce.  Family, community and friendship aren’t always byproducts of amateur theatre, but at GAODS they have these in abundance.  Along with their commitment to supporting young members and their desire to involve all who want to be on stage there is so many positives to note about GAODS – a great production by a wonderful Society. 

Congratulations to William and all the Production Team, Committee and Cast – your hard work has paid off – a very successful opening night.

 

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