My Fair Lady

An ambitious project on Carnegie stage, and how well it came off under Caroline’s direction.

The production team of Caroline Foot and Claire Lowe with Sue Balaam and Jo Cooper did well to recruit such a well-balanced and talented team for the principal roles, and from the company as all seen before.   The chorus and minor principals all full of energy and participating to the full, once again many younger members from Thetford Academy Sixth Form with talents to show before disappearing to college.

What a find in Charlotte Jeffries as a pocket-sized Eliza with very strong acting ability and beautiful vocals (she was good as Peter Pan 2 years ago but this was special, but she departs to college in September), a very emotional interpretation as she became so involved in the ‘flower girl project of transformation, truly a performance to appreciate.

Master-minding this transformation as Henry Higgins, Craig Plumley had all the words and a nice singing voice in this presentation, the intolerance to push Eliza, the friendship with Pickering, a rounded characterisation that drove the action throughout.

Andy Connell as Colonel Pickering was so good natured in encouragement to Eliza and friendship to Higgins, the words all fine and relationships good, this felt indeed like a visit to be enjoyed with friends.   A good rapport between the two men and a good balance of characters (following on from Fagin and Bumble last year).

And occupying the character-funny (and normal for the pantomime funny), Phil Pearson was the obvious choice to play Alfred Dolittle with his comedy touches amongst all the dialogue.   A lot to learn for all these leads and they did well to achieve the standard.

A nice cameo role as Mrs Pearce from Emma Kelly, good voice to sing and speak.   And Georgina Huish looked fetching as Mrs Higgins.

Connor Brown as newcomer to Players, a Sixth Former, was a good looking young man to play Freddy and worked well in his courting of Eliza.

MFL is so difficult to stage with the many scene changes and the Carnegie is not the most helpful of venues, but the crew managed to cope with cloths and furniture and those ‘doors’.   Also remember, for the future, that in period shows, the undergarments more important than in the modern productions!

The ‘band’ of musicians (trio as for pantomime) very acceptable and kept the tunes and the beat in line.

It was lovely to see this show as a long time since last viewed, it brought back the good feelings and nostalgia much appreciated by the full-house audience.   Congratulations.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.