Review: Opera Australia And John Frost's Latest Musical Partnership Celebrates The 60th Anniversary Of MY FAIR LADY

Tuesday 6th September 2016, 7:30pm, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Under the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House, MY FAIR LADY pairs recreations of the original vision with Direction from the original Eliza Doolittle, Dame Julie Andrews, the remaining living link to Moss Hart's (1956 Director) original production. Alan Jay Lerner (Book and Lyrics) and Frederick Loewe's (Music) much loved musical based on George Bernard Shaw's play and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture "Pygmalion" is bought to life by some of Australia's award winning Theatre Royalty and an acclaimed star of UK stage and screen.

Through extensive research Oliver Smith's sets and Cecil Beaton's costumes have been recreated to capture their vision for the post Edwardian England period piece that captures the breadth of the society of the age, from Covent Garden flower sellers to the social set of the upper class and royalty. Recreations of Smith's detailed sets, drawn from the legacy given to his assistant Rosaria Sinisi, transport the audience to a London filled with dingy little laneways occupied by street vendors and dustmen, the extravagant row houses of the upper classes and the expansive grounds of Ascot racecourse. In an era when set designers are continually trying to outdo each other with the inclusion of new technology, it is nice to see a 'classic' theatre set that allows the scene to support the performance rather than try to distract or overshadow the acting. Similarly, Cecil Beaton's wonderful costumes have been recreated by Beaton's long time assistant John David Ridge. There is a beautiful contrast between the solid colours of the aristocracy and the grimey multi patterned layers of the lower classes. Women in bold colours and magnificent feathers spill out of the theatre in Covent Garden to be entertained by street performers in hardy browns and greys. Women in severe black and white dresses with excessive hats are escorted by men in grey mourning suits in contrast to the exuberant Eliza who will stand out regardless of her pastel gown and the same women don vibrant dresses in contrast to Eliza's elegant and pure white ball gown.

Award winning UK actor Alex Jennings is wonderful as Professor Higgins. He presents a subtle performance that allows the comedy of the story to flow naturally, presenting an honest and heart-warming expression of the socially inept academic. Little looks, perfect comic timing and an understated delivery garner genuine laughter and understanding of the "confirmed old bachelor" that has "grown accustomed" to having his "squashed cabbage leaf" student around. Jennings inhabits Higgins and expresses an understanding of the character ensuring that his songs touch the soul and give an insight to the man that at face value seems perpetually preoccupied with his project. Tony Llewellyn-Jones presents the more sensitive and well-mannered Colonel Pickering with equal thoughtfulness and restraint. He gives Pickering a beautiful endearing nature as the more caring and considerate of the two whilst having a delightful brightness when he realises they have succeeded in transforming Eliza. Both men have a lovely physicality that is congruent with their natures, helping confirm their characters without tipping into caricature.

As Professor Higgin's mother Mrs Higgins, "First Lady of Australian Theatre" Robyn Nevin delivers the perfect blend of style and sophistication, exasperation at her single minded son and a sympathy and sensitivity towards the former flower girl. Lovely laconic lines are delivered with a pace that exaggerates and emphasises without being forced. As Eliza's father, drunkard dustman Alfred P. Doolittle, Award winner Reg Livermore threatens to steal the show from Jennings and Llewellyn-Jones. Livermore presents the perpetually drunk scammer with a great physicality and plays up the intoxicated state through his accent which whilst wandering out of the cockney origins is still deliciously inebriated.

Whilst the two leading men and some of the supporting roles were presented beautifully with subtlety the role of Eliza was presented with a more overt expression leading tipping the guttersnipe into a caricature. It is unclear if this was a choice of the director or actor Anna O'Byrne's interpretation. The choice to present the 21 year old Eliza with a deeper tone than the iconic leading ladies that created the role for stage and screen and a wavering accent, beyond the transition Professor Higgins is seeking to cultivate, has led to a lack of clarity as to whether Eliza is supposed to be a young ingénue plucked out of the grimy city or a middle aged woman. The physicality with O'Byrne's stature unfortunately reinforces the impression that Eliza is older rather than the 20 something flower girl that offends Professor Higgins' ears. Whilst O'Byrne normally has a lovely voice as evidenced in the earlier Cast Announcement Media Call, the transitions between the rough fury and the pure soprano were awkward.

As with Eliza, Mark Vincent's Freddy Eynsford-Hill and Deidre Rubenstein's Mrs Pearce have been presented with awkward 'blocking' leaving Vincent and Rubenstein in particular delivering direct to the audience or standing awkwardly when engaged in overly deliberate dialogue. The delivery of Freddy's On The Street Where You Live and its reprise sees Vincent standing awkwardly and presenting an almost identical expression despite the passage of time. Rubenstein presents Mrs Pearce with an unnatural cadence and tone even when considering she is Professor Higgins' housekeeper.

Aside from the little quibbles, MY FAIR LADY is a nostalgic performance for people familiar with the work, either from stage or screen, whilst being an introduction to a musical theatre classic for those less familiar with the work.

MY FAIR LADY

SYDNEY SEASON DETAILS

Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Season: Previews from August 30, 2016

Australian premiere September 6, 2016

Performance Times: Wed, Matinees Tues, Wed & Sat 1pm, Sun 3pm

Price: From $89.90

Bookings: myfairladymusical.com.au or 02 9318 8200, 02 9250 7777 or 1300 723 038

BRISBANE SEASON DETAILS

Venue: Lyric Theatre QPAC

Season: Previews from March 12, 2017

Opening Night March 15, 2017

TICKETS GO ON SALE: October

MELBOURNE SEASON DETAILS

Venue: Regent Theatre

Season: Previews from May 11, 2017

Opening Night May 16, 2017

TICKETS GO ON SALE: October