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Friday, Jul 04, 2008
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My Fair Lady is more than fair |
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| My Fair Lady is more than fair | |
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by Eric Andrews-Katz -
SGN Contributing Writer MY FAIR LADY PARAMOUNT THEATRE THROUGH MAY 4 When someone says something is a "classic," it should be taken with a grain of salt. Few things in life are defined by Webster as: "generally considered to be of the highest quality, especially in the arts," but last night's opening of My Fair Lady proved some things still deserve the title. Christopher Cazenove (Dynasty's "Ben Carrington") stars as Henry Higgins, the arrogant professor of language who bets that he can transform a "dragon-tailed guttersnipe" into a duchess. His performance is strong, although his voice a little too quiet at times, and is reminiscent of Rex Harrison in the way he speaks/sings his part. He moves about the stage with an easy grace and although the character isn't written as all that likeable, we enjoy watching him perform. Lisa O'Hare, as ingénue Eliza Doolittle, is pure delight. Her voice is clear, even with a cockney accent, and brings an innocent to the part. The transformation of flower girl to lady takes no one by surprise more than her own character, and we, the audience, get to share in her pride and excitement, witnessing as she blossoms. The first time she appears dressed elegantly, the audience gasped with approval. She even bares a slight, youthful physical resemblance to the silver screen's Eliza, Audrey Hepburn. Barbara Marineau, as housekeeper Mrs. Pearce, delivers a strong supporting performance. Her character and her voice are both outstanding. It's a shame her role doesn't require her to sing more. Her maternal persona comes through in the brief sympathetic and comforting scenes she has with Eliza. Walter Charles does a fine job in the role of Col. Pickering, bringing humor in what can otherwise be (for other actors) a wasted role. Marni Nixon, famous for vocalizing Eliza's singing in the 1964 film and later playing the role on stage, currently plays Mrs. Higgins. She comes full circle in this role, going from pupil to teacher; Eliza runs to her for her final stand and she bestows the final touches on Eliza's transformation. But it is Tim Jerome who delivers a fine blend of comic timing and scene-stealing hamming that caused the audience to explode with applause. His Alfred P. Doolittle has a down-to-earth quality with which we can all identify. Much like the "Inn Keeper" of Les Misérables, this role is a pure comic relief and adds subtext to the plot. Tim Jerome does it well and brings likeability to the character, reminding us of a WC Fields personality, but with more animation and humor. Our laugh may be at his expense, but he's telling the joke. One of the largest talents of the evening belongs to someone who wasn't on stage at all. Anthony Ward designed both sets and costumes and was amazing with both tasks. From the filled bookshelves of Prof. Higgins' library, to the garden atrium of Mrs. Higgins' conservatory, the sets were impressive to say the least. Without being overbearing or appearing too false, they definitely dressed the stage as a silent, main supporting cast member. Consisting of lavish gowns in black and greens (beautifully exemplified in the 'Ascot Gavotte' scene), Mr. Ward dressed his characters in timely and stylish fashion, moving the musical's setting back a few years. We don't mind, and it adds a timely quality to the production style. The current version of My Fair Lady is directed by the master Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables, Cats), produced by the impresario Cameron Mackintosh (Phantom of the Opera) and choreographed by the legendary Matthew Bourne (the all-male version of Swan Lake). The show looks incredibly refreshed for being half a century old. Lerner and Loewe's songs (I Could Have Danced All Night, On the Street Where You Live) are familiar and comforting, welcoming us back while introducing themselves to an entire new generation. The production can be summed up by one of its own characters: "Charming. Quite charming." My Fair Lady, currently playing at the Paramount Theatre (April 29-May 4) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the production. The original 1956 musical starred Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison, running for 2,717 performances, becoming one of the longest running shows of the 1960s. It enjoyed three more Broadway incarnations with a total of 662 further performances. The 1964 film starred Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison and went on to win 8 Academy Awards. My Fair Lady takes its place of honor and stands up to the test of time in being a true classic. |
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