My Fair Lady

As always with a Spot on Production we were very warmly welcomed by Sally Hughes and her front of house team. We were earlier than usual but the foyer was already buzzing with anticipation. We entered the auditorium and were greeted with an open set with a gentle haze of dry ice behind a gauze, really creating an atmospheric London at night setting. My Fair Lady is based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and is a rags to riches story of Eliza Dolittle and the ever pompous and overbearing Professor Higgins as he tries to make a lady of Eliza, to pass her off as one at Ascot and the Embassy Ball. It is the stage show that triggered the film with Rex Harrison as Higgins and Audrey Hepburn as Eliza.

The lights dimmed and the orchestra set off. The stage was immediately filled with flower sellers and costermongers all interacting well and setting the story as the overture played. The band was well led by Musical Director Matt Lemon and were at a good pace and a good volume. The set to start was a London street scene with flats (befitting) to stage left and stage right with a lit brazier to add to the overall setting. The stage was very well lit (and programmed) by Tom Pearce (TPT Lighting) and the sound by Mark Bourne was very well balanced. We were not drowned out by the orchestra and we could hear the cast and principals well. The story (which to be fair is very well known) was easy to follow. Costumes, provided by Costume Solutions were many and varied, but none out of place, all fitting well, and the ladies outfits for the Ascot Gavotte were superb and drew a gasp (and applause) from the audience (especially the two older ladies in front of where we sat. There were quite a few scene changes and the stage crew led by Pete Tonks and Michelle Palmer ushered these changes quickly and without fuss.

The enthusiastic cast were well rehearsed and well drilled. They looked as if they were enjoying themselves and this came over well into the auditorium. A testament to the work done by Adam Rush and his directorial team. This was also particularly evident with the choreography, brilliantly put together by Jemma Conner and Lucy Creighton, particularly "get me to the church on time" which was a full on routine involving all and was undoubtedly the show stopper. 

The diction, as I have come to expect from Spot On Productions was first rate, clear and concise and delivered at a good pace. Neil Maddock as the eponymous Henry Higgins and Rachel Bateman as Eliza worked very well together, bouncing off each other with great timing. Neil's arrogant depiction of Higgins was full of just the right amount of pomposity, without being over the top. Rachel's portrayal of Eliza was truly believable with a beautiful singing voice and great mannerisms to match. They were very ably backed up by Pete Evans as Colonel Pickering, Jo Barnard as Mrs Higgins and Tyler Convey as the love-lorn Freddy Eynesford-Hill. Mark Ponsford played Alfred P. Doolittle (Eliza's Father) with real comic timing, great facial gestures and had us rolling in the aisles, especially "Get me to the church"

The show was long, however, such was the quality it passed by speedily, you'd hardly notice. Well done Spot On, another great show. 

 

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