The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake needed a blockbuster musical this season to offset their surprise financial setback after last season. That sounds like an easy fix, but really it isn't. As the sole musical on the bill this season and running straight through to December this year, this musical choice had to have legs, as it were, and be about as guaranteed a crowd-pleaser as possible.
Lerner & Loewe's classic from 1956, My Fair Lady, fit the bill perfectly. Much as it did back in 2011 to celebrate the first 50 years of the Festival and was a huge hit back then as well. Really, this is the sort of musical goldmine Shaw Festival revels in and can do better than most anyone else around. So I wouldn't say it's a sure bet, but darn close to it.
The musical, coming during the golden age of big Broadway musicals, is showing its age somewhat after all these years, but it is up to the co-directors Tim Carroll and Kimberley Rampersad to elevate and move the musical forward into the 21st century and bring together a cast able to fulfil that dream.
Here on all counts, I would say it is a job well done.
I won't give away the ending for those few who may not really know the story as of yet (it is based, of course, on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion) but for many it remains problematic, especially in the 21st century. Still, the original musical changed the ending from Shaw's original intent so in either case it presented problems.
The ending of My Fair Lady has always left me with mixed emotions, even after the stellar 2011 production here at Shaw, but we always have to remember the context of when it was written and first staged and base your observations on that historical fact when revisiting the musical now.
Having said all that, the ride to the end is about as joyful, tuneful and full of masterful performances you just can't help but love this show. The entire cast and crew shine brightly here and they seem to know they have a box-office winner on their hands.
There's no shortage of accolades to hand out with this strong cast, from David Adams' delightfully 'cocky' Alfred P. Doolittle, Eliza's father, to Shaw veteran Sharry Flett's elegant and refined Mrs. Higgins, Henry's mother of course. She knows the many shortcomings of her son but knows he is a good man in spite of his intractable demeanour much of the time.
But the two central characters, Eliza Doolittle and her elocution teacher Professor Henry Higgins are what make this production extra special. Kristi Frank's Eliza is strong-willed with a desire to make more of her life than be a mere flower-girl for the rest of her life, and she sees in Higgins a way out of her squalid conditions. Her voice shines in every number she sings.
Tom Rooney as Henry Higgins is crafty enough to know he hasn't got the pipes necessary for a full singing role here, so as many who have gone before him including the first Higgins, Rex Harrison, who originated the role on Broadway. They make this a singing/speaking role and it just works. But when Rooney does in fact sing, he does not disappoint. His final scene as he longingly sings "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face" will absolutely pull at your heartstrings. The old guy has a heart after all!
Along with a strong cast and direction the choreography by Rampersad is bang on, and Paul Sportelli's musical direction works well with the musical forces at his disposal, I noted a bit of a sound issue in the early going as I sometimes could not hear all the ensemble voices on stage while the orchestra was in full flight but that might be rectified in future performances.
So, should you go? Absolutely you should! This is textbook musical done with much love and respect for the original. It may not appear quite as splashy as the celebratory 2011 production at Shaw, but it is still one for the ages.
My Fair Lady rates a full 4 out of 4 stars and continues at the Festival Theatre through to December 22nd. For tickets and more information go to Shawfest.com.
Have a great weekend!
June 21st, 2024.
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