MY FAIR LADY IS A loverly success
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 1991.
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The Cayman Drama Society have succeeded in adopting this recipe with their latest production "My Fair Lady". It is indeed "loverly" and very entertaining.
The musical, an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's classic "Pygmalion", tells the story of a poor flower. girl, Eliza Dolittle, who wants to become a lady. Professor Higgins, a wealthy phonetics teacher, agrees to coach Eliza in the art of speech after making a bet with a friend of his, Colonel Pickering, that he would be able to "pass her off as a lady". However, the success of Professor Higgins' experiment leads to an eligible young bachelor falling in love with Eliza and many other repercussions.
Alan Hall portrays Professor Higgins with style and determination. Unlike Rex Harrison, who played the chauvinistic phonetics teacher in the film, Mr. Hall sings all his songs. (Rex Harrison spoke them). Mr. Hall's voice is a pleasure to listen to and theatre aficionados may remember him from other musicals including "Fiddler on The Roof" and "Pirates of Penzance".
Wendy Moore was the perfect choice to play Eliza Dolittle. She masters the role with ease and charm and she even resembles Audrey Hepburn, who played Eliza in the movie. Mrs. Moore is a good singer and she easily switches between the cockney accent of a flower girl in Covent Garden and the genteel enunciation of a lady at Ascot.
Colonel Pickering. Cont'd on page A5 Professor Higgins' cavalier accomplice in the experiment, is performed by John Gaylor, a new-comer to Cayman theatre. Although his voice is quiet at times, he plays this sober character with sophistication.
Elizas' father, Alfred P. Dolittle, is portrayed by Mr. Peter Riley, who has been with CDS since 1986. He gives a rollicking performance filled with energy and wit. Act 2, scene 3 is very amusing. Alfred is "getting married in the morning" and thus taking full advantage of the last hours of his freedom by drinking and dancing until dawn. He and his friends stagger drunkenly through the audience and sing the lively song "Get Me To The Church".
The rest of the main characters are also played with vigour. Freda Bettany plays Mrs. Pearce, Professor Higgins' housekeeper. Mrs. Higgins, the Professor's mother, is portrayed by Jacqueline Caunt with much conviction.
Freddy Eynsford-Hill, the high-society bachelor who falls for Eliza, is brought to life by Paul de Freitas, Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music". His mother is played by Marlene Riley.
Finally, Roland Stacy portrays Zoltan Karpathy, a Hungarian language specialist who could be the cause of Eliza's downfall. His performance and that of the chorus add to the success of the production.
As well as directing "My Fair Lady", Jackie Balls designed the impressive sets. She also made the flamboyant hats worn during the Ascot scene. The costumes, set and acting made the Ascot scene unforgettable.
"My Fair Lady" is an ambitious and lavish production. However, Mrs. Balls aimed for a successful and professional play and, in the words of Professor Higgins, "By George, she's done it".
Performance dates are 14-15, 20-22 and 27-29 June at 7:30pm at the Prospect Playhouse. Tickets, at $12 adults, $6 children, can be bought at J's British Showcase in the Galleria.
