My Fair Lady
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion
Book & Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Directed by Dominic Missimi
Music Direction by Michael Mahler
At Marriott Theatre
Marvelous performances give My Fair Lady an enduring life
Kevin Gudahl, one of the finest classical actors working in Chicago, revisits Professor Henry Higgins from his log running Court Theatre of a few years ago in a most enduring performance now playing at Marriott Theatre. Gudahl strongly plays the strong-willed bachelor with a cutting edge. His equal is Heidi Kettenring’s Eliza Doolittle, the feisty ignorant flower girl and student of the Professor. Add David Lively’s classy Colonel Pickering with Don Forston’s lovable middle class moralist, Alfie, and director Dominic Missimi’s workable production becomes a most entertaining affair. The glitz and glamor of London in 1912 is presented in the marvelous outfits (costume design by Nancy Missimi) in several scenes.
My Fair Lady is a witty, stinging social commentary on Edwardian British morality wherein the upper-class speech Professor Higgins boasts he can turn an uneducated low-class flower girl into a princess at the embassy ball. With one of the smartest books with brilliant lyrics (by Alan Jay Lerner) on one of the finest, lush musical scores by Frederick Loewe, My Fair lady is one of the gems of the Broadway stage. (It is my all-time favorite musical.)
“I Could Have Danced All Night,” “On the Street where You Live” and “The Rain in Spain’ together with the fun marches “With a Little Bit of Luck” and “Get me to the Church on Time” and the sweet “Wouldn’t It be Loverly,” My Fair Lady is a memorable show etched into the fabric of musical theatre. The highlights of this fine production come from the strong work by Kevin Gudahl as the arrogant Higgins. David Lively and Heidi Kettenring along with Don Forston’s Alfie all performed with deft aplomb.
Marriott Theatre offers a lush, well-sung production that contains enough edge and sweetness to win us once again to the world of high English society. This production is worth seeing.
Recommended
Tom Williams
My Fair Lady will continue through February 14, 2010 ( Valentine’s Day) at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Performances are Wednesday at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Holiday schedules differ so check out www.MarriottTheatre.com or call the box office for the special schedule. Tickets are $45 and there are student and senior discounts available, but not on Friday and Saturday nights. Dinner packages are available, so call the box office at 847-634-0200 or visit www.Marriotttheatre.com.