OK, I have to admit my bias - I think this is the best musical ever written! when I was in high school I used to study with this playing in a continuous loop in the background. Probably explains why I know all the lyrics but can't remember any physics or chemistry.
In any case, the Shaw production met all my expectations. Deborah Hay was a loverly Eliza. Benedict Campbell was superb as Henry Higgins. Neil Barclay was born to play the part of Alfred Doolittle and Patrick Galligan was an excellent Pickering -even though he looks too young.
Great staging and scenery, wonderful costumes. You had to walk out singing!
I mostly go to the Shaw Festival for Shaw, and I generally skip musicals anywhere, but especially at Shaw, where they haven't seemed to "get it".
ReplyDeleteHowever, our first weekend at NotL this year was a bit of a surprise, the Shaw plays were rather weak and the others were much better than I expected.
My Fair Lady was excellent. I am sure you could argue for some Rogers & Hammerstein for the best musical title, and for Cabaret, but My Fair Lady is certainly right up there.
In this production, as Cathy said, the cast was excellent and the set design simple but attractive - if a little obsessed with CGI birds. They should have had the MacDonald & Munro team do Heartbreak House.
All in all a delightful show, I came out smiling and humming.