My Fair Lady

8th - 19th March 2023

Birmingham Hippodrome 

Neil Cox

The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Lerner & Loewe's 'MY FAIR LADY.'

The book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe and directed by Bartlett Sher. 

An overwhelming production with a downloadable score of instantly recognisable and familiar tracks including I Could Have Danced All Night, Get Me to the Church on Time, Wouldn't It Be Loverly and many more. 

The cast includes Lesley Garrett as Mrs Pierce, Michael D. Xavier as Henry Higgins, Charlotte Kennedy as Eliza Doolittle, Adam Woodyatt as Alfred P. Doolittle, Heather Jackson as Mrs Higgins, John Middleton as Colonel Pickering and Tom Liggins as Freddy Eynsford-Hill.

If you are unfamiliar with the story, you are in for an absolute treat as Eliza Doolittle who is a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to convert Eliza into his idea of a proper lady. 

After braving the onset of a snowstorm it was a little disappointing that one of the leading actors playing Eliza Doolittle had been changed; however I was delighted by the end of Act 1 with the outstanding and powerful voice of Rebekah Lowings (Eliza Doolittle), who absolutely 'blew the roof off' to a rapturous applause from around the auditorium! 

She left me speechless, shaking with excitement and wanting more! Stunning!

Silent silhouettes - a brief, but beautiful and surreal moment during Act 1, Scene 6 of the company entering the stage during the race scene. With the benefit of surround sound; the clamour of horses left the audience feeling part of the crowd at a race meet with galloping race horses enveloping the audience!

A live orchestra complements the whole performance and truly creates an atmospheric presence. 

Professor Henry Higgins played by the talented Michael D. Xavier brought a comedy element more notable in Act Two with elements and traits of John Cleese!

Act Two, Scene 4 flower market - hilarious, fun and flamboyant! Adam Woodyatt surpassed my expectations and was extremely entertaining but was surprised his part was relatively small. 

The performance is of considerable length commencing promptly at 7pm and concluding at approximately 10pm including the interval but you have to question the fact - is the performance too long?

Answering this the performance has been beautifully produced and choreographed with elegant period costumes, eloquent dance scenes and a storyline which has stood the test of time. 

What an apt and fitting way to watch 'My Fair Lady' at the end of International Women's Day with a rendition of this 'classic feel good performance of epic proportions.' 

The only down side with live theatre unlike television you cannot pause and rewind! 

With such a strong and powerful end to Act One I did feel the finale of My Fair Lady could have equally been as powerful with a rendition of the fitting and appropriate song 'I Could Have Danced All Night.' However and despite this both the audience and myself thoroughly enjoyed it with a standing ovation demonstrating the love of the show. 

A four out of five performance - highly recommended! 

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