Once On This Island v. My Fair Lady

[CPannullo]

I’m looking to buy tickets for my birthday but can’t decide on which show! Anybody have any preferences when it comes to My Fair Lady and Once On This Island?

[Bwayfan292]

Why I cant speak for My fair lady. I had a great time at Once on this island! It was so much fun and the cast was amazing. Definitly my favorite show of the season.

[BroadwayConcierge]

They’re pretty different shows. One is 3 hours, the other is 100 minutes. One is a classic Golden Age Musical, the other is much more contemporary. MFL is a big, glorious, traditional production, where OOTI has a more modern twist on the text.

Both are great productions. My personal tastes are easily for My Fair Lady, but it depends on your interests.

[bwayphreak234]

My Fair Lady. No question.

[TorontoBroadwayFan]

I saw My Fair Lady last night and am seeing Once on this island tonight so will report back on which I preferred.

[dramamama611]

They are both fabulous productions.

Tell us your favorite and least favorite shows, and we'll be able to better answer!

[JudyDenmark]

I say Once On This Island - the production itself is so unique in this space (in the round with the sand and the lake and everything)... you’ve never seen anything like it, and it could never tour like that. As great as My Fair Lady might be, it’s a straightforward adaptation of a classic show. You really can’t go wrong between the two, so I wouldn’t sweat the decision too much... but given that they’ve both been so highly praised across the board, I’d personally go with the more creative, once-in-a-lifetime option. 

[CT2NYC]

They're both great choices, but, depending on when your birthday is, I would go with the one for which you can get a better seat. Seating for MY FAIR LADY is more limited at this point than for ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. If your seat options for MFL are only so-so, I would choose a great seat for OOTI over it.

[Browneyes142]

JudyDenmark said: "I say Once On This Island - the production itself is so unique in this space (in the round with the sand and the lake and everything)... you’ve never seen anything like it, andit could never tour like that. As great as My Fair Lady might be, it’s a straightforward adaptation of a classic show. You really can’t go wrong between the two, so I wouldn’t sweat the decision too much...but given that they’ve both been so highly praised across the board, I’d personally go with the more creative, once-in-a-lifetimeoption."

I completely agree. This production is very unique. Before I watched it, I was more excited about my fair lady. The lack of discount tickets for my fair lady made the decision for me but I am so glad.

[Call_me_jorge]

Why can’t you do both? Maybe try a two show day

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

You seriously can't go wrong with either. They are two of the best productions this season has to offer. Some may prefer one production to the other or some might simply prefer the material of one over the other, but it becomes nitpicking at that point, IMO.

[TorontoBroadwayFan]

Call_me_jorge said: "Why can’t you do both? Maybe try a two show day"

That’s what I’m doing, except it’s a THREE show day for me today! :)

[CurtainPullDowner]

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND.

It is a unique and beautiful production.

MY FAIR LADY is an excellent straightforward (except for the end) revival.

[CPannullo]

Call_me_jorge said: "Why can’t you do both? Maybe try a two show day"

I could but I’m not a fan of doing that because i feel like after seeing the second show you’ve forgot the first show you’ve seen. I like to process/reflect the show I’ve seen throughout the day/night. Also i live on Long Island, so i travel to the city seeing shows throughout the year 

[dramamama611]

So see OOTI now, and MFL later. Problem solved.

[CPannullo]

dramamama611 said: "They are both fabulous productions.

Tell us your favorite and least favorite shows, and we'll be able to better answer!"

I’d say my favorite shows are Waitress, Dear Evan Hansen, A Chorus Line, and Funny Girl. My least favorite I’d say are Avenue Q and believe it or not, The Lion King 

[Fetus]

Definitely Once On this Island. Beautiful production that will never be recreated. My Fair Lady will be around for a while.

[JBC3]

OOTI is an inventive staging of a very average show. Go wit My Fair Lady. The material is stronger.

[frapp2latte]

I have not seen My Fair Lady so I cannot vouch for it but I think it would be better for you to watch Once on This Island now because depending on how it fares at the Tony's it likely won't be around for much longer. Plus I think Lea Salonga will only be around until June. The rest of the cast is fantastic though so you'd be in great hands regardless! It's a beautifully unique and immersive production and the experience won't be the same in a different theater. 

Storywise though it's not the best so you'll be watching it for the creative production and the cast's performances.

[Impossible2]

I haven't seen this production but I don't like My Fair Lady, it's boring.

I really enjoyed OOTI.

[Scarlet Leigh]

I am severely partial to one show over the other so I will not include my taste in this one.

My Fair Lady will surely tour. I would not be shocked to see it end up on Live from Lincoln Center. You will be able to see the physical production, as is, alternatively in time I am sure. It also (at this rate) will last longer in New York than Island. The opportunity to see it again (maybe not the same cast but the production itself) will likely be there.

Once on This Island, on the other hand, is a production that is unique to the space it is in and you will never be able to see it like this again. When it tours, it will be staged entirely different. You will lose the intimate experience as well as the design elements like the sand and the water.

Hands down, Once on This Island.

[Robbie2]

You must see both! on the same day...Get a cheap ticket for OOTI and splurge on MFL!

[Wick3]

I agree with others and my vote is for OOTI. 

Show is doing so-so in the box office and if it doesn't do well after the Tony Awards, it may even be in danger of closing. 

My Fair Lady is a classic musical where tourists (especially the ones who loved the movie) will buy tickets to regardless if it does or does not do well at the Tony's. It'll be around.

I've seen both and will admit OOTI the production itself was AMAZING! For 100 mins it transports you to another world. As for MFL, I loved the movie and already have tickets to see it again in June. Though I loved the Bway revival of MFL, I'll admit I prefer the West End production back 16-17 years ago. 

[Clyde15]

Once on This Island for sure

[broadway86]

Go with your gut on this one. They are both excellent productions, I really can't choose which one was better.

EDIT: However, like others have said, OOTI is transportive and only at the Circle in the Square can you get that experience.