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Theatre Review: My Fair Lady ***

Yvonne Paterson reviews the tour of the much-loved musical that contains 'a fabulous cast that takes the production on with gusto' but has a fundamental flaw.

My Fair Lady graces the stage with elegance and style with a fabulous cast that takes the production on with gusto. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, the musical tells the story of how Henry Higgins, a pompous professor, believes he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a young cockney working-class girl who sells flowers on the street, into someone he can pass off as “a lady”.

Michael D. Xavier is a delight in the role of Henry Higgins, a character who’s rude, ill-mannered and has little regard for people’s feelings (especially Eliza’s), but Xavier has a wonderful comic way of making him likeable. He’s a character you should despise but don’t; he’s not charming, he’s not nice and he’s definitely not romantic.

Eliza Doolittle, played by Charlotte Kennedy, is actually tougher and smarter than Higgins ever gives her credit for. Kennedy is brilliant: her vocals shine in every number, and she has a captivating energy about her.

The production also contains some strong supporting performances. John Middelton gives a great performance in the role of Colonel Pickering, a fellow linguistic enthusiast who isn’t as dismissive of Eliza’s feelings and tries to moderate Higgins’ mistreatment of her. Lesley Garrett is wonderful as Mrs Pierce. Although the role doesn't see her sing much, her voice is distinctive within the chorus numbers, and she has a playful nature that bounces off well with Xavier. Adam Woodyatt is brilliantly funny playing Eliza’s deadbeat father, a character whose behaviour warrants many face-palm moments that he seems to revel in and plays well.

The actors are not the only fabulous thing about this production. What is most unusual and fantastically striking is Michael Yeargen’s set design: Higgins’s revolving home is a technical marvel for a touring production, as are all the other pieces of grand set that are flown in and out between scenes. Also of note are Catherine Zuber’s costumes: full of colour, sparkles and a maximalist flare.

However, as much as this is a wonderful production visually, it is not unproblematic. Director Barrtlett Sher’s decision to modify the relationship between Eliza and Professor Higgins doesn’t quite work and is a little confusing. For the most part, Sher stays true to Lerner and Loewe’s beloved musical, effortlessly flowing between one musical number to the next, and the relationship between Eliza and Higgins is fascinating to watch: with Higgins being completely oblivious as to how cruel he is yet unwittingly warms to Eliza, who challenges him and is not afraid to bite back. Xavier’s portrayal of Higgins is brilliantly funny and gets the irony just right in order to make the production’s comedy work, making you almost root for him—yet the character you should be rooting for is Eliza. The sparring and often heated exchanges between the two have you eager for them to set aside their differences and give in to the romance that is clearly blossoming between them. Sher is not entirely wrong in his decisions, given that George Bernard Shaw’s original has a different outcome. However, the storytelling of the musical doesn’t hold enough weight for Sher’s change to the final moment to work.

Still, these decisions do not take away from how beautifully this production has been put together, and the revival of the musical is a joy nonetheless.

My Fair Lady performs at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 14th of December 2022 to 7th January 2023.


All photos by Marc Brenner.

Tags: theatre

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