A Review

The Heart Takes Flight

By R. J. Donovan

It was a wet, dreary night on Washington Street, but inside The Opera House, all was right with the world as the national tour of "My Fair Lady" opened a two week run.

Unlike some other shows of its era (it debuted in 1956), "My Fair Lady" is as entertaining and as engaging as ever.  Based on the Shaw classic "Pygmalion," the show's language is bright, perfectly complemented by the lilting Lerner & Loewe score.  Pulling it all together is Trevor Nunn's razor-sharp direction, with the choreography and musical staging of Matthew Bourne.

The story follows linguist Professor Henry Higgins as he and his colleague, Colonel Pickering, snatch Eliza Doolittle, a common flower girl from the streets, and set out to make a lady of her.  Can they overcome her cockney accent?  Will she ever learn how to walk and talk like a member of the upper crust.  And when they take her to a royal party, will she pass muster or embarrass them all?

The cast is led by Lisa O'Hare as Eliza Doolittle and Christopher Cazenove as Higgins.  Both performers starred in the highly touted production that toured Britain. 

There's an inherent challenge when a show is as well known as "My Fair Lady."  Whether through repeated viewings of the film, or multiple listens to the original cast recording, people have an idea in their heads of how the show should look and sound.

So it's a great credit to the company that they have made the show their own.  The words are all the same, the music is as familiar as ever, but when O'Hare bubbles about how she could have danced all night, it's her experience alone. Whether groveling in the shadows, selling her flowers in Covent Garden, or comically posturing at Ascot as a proper lady, she's delightful.  And she's got a voice that fills the theater.

Cazenove sings a bit more than Rex Harrison ever did (or could), but he maintains tradition by sputtering out his songs as lofty lectures to those lacking his insight and intelligence.  He's appropriately irascible when needed, and exasperated when he meets his match near the end of the night.

The surprise gem of the huge company is Tim Jerome as Alfred Doolittle, Eliza's scruffy father.  He scores major audience approval in the show's two rousing production numbers, "A Little Bit of Luck" and "I'm Getting Married in the Morning."

A lovely addition to the evening is the legendary Marni Nixon as Higgins' mother.  Although she supplied the singing voice for many a film star (including Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady"), Ms. Nixon ironically doesn't sing a note here.  However, she shows her inimitable comic talents as she banters with her son and friends.

Visually, the production glistens. Anthony Ward's set is anchored by an elegant glass atrium of sorts, which, with additions and subtractions, becomes an eye-appealing flow of London locations.  Professor Higgins' home, in particular, is intriguing as it effortlessly glides in and out in a multitude of small elements to become one intricate whole.  As well, Ward's costumes are spot-on, with the detailed outfits for The Ascot a shimmering fashion parade of beads, fringe, feathers and brocades.

As the woman sitting behind me said with a contented sigh at the end of the evening, "They just don't write musicals like that anymore."

So enjoy "My Fair Lady" while it's here.

"My Fair Lady" is at The Opera House, 539 Washington Street in Boston, through February 17. For information, call Ticketmaster at 617-931-2787.

Production Photos: Joan Marcus

-- OnStage Boston