My Fair Lady at Light Opera Works

Book & Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner

Music by Frederick Loewe

Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion

Directed by Rudy Hogenmiller

Conducted by Roger L. Bingman

Choreographer by Clayton Cross

Produced by Light Opera Works

At Cahn Auditorium, Evanston

Nick Sandys revives his triumphant take on Henry Higgins from Light Opera Works’ 2009 production

My Fair Lady is one my of all-time favorite musicals–containing a great score by Frederick Loewe,  wonderful staging, with a bitingly witty book (by Alan Jay Lerner) based on Shaw’s Pygmalion.  Add a cast of major talents, and My Fair Lady unfolds as a complete work of art. It sets the benchmark for musicals. Rudy Hogenmiller and conductor Roger L. Bingamen’s production is world class, featuring terrific singers and two fine performances, with Nick Sandys as Higgins and Elizabeth Telford as Eliza.

Telford establishes the wretched flower girl’s desire to become a lady in the lovely “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.” In “I Could Have Danced All Night,” Telford expresses her enchantment for Higgins. Elizabeth Telford is  a worthy Eliza.  Cary Lovett, reviving his 2009 role, was a charming, free spirited, and philosophical drunk Alfred P. Doolittle. Lovett leads his two show stoppers, “With a Little Bit of Luck” and “Get Me to the Church on Time,” with gusto to  Clayton Cross’s English musical hall inspired  choreography.

Kirk Swenk’s Colonel Pickering was funny and so British, While William Dwyer soars with “On the Street Where You Live.” Theresa Ham’s Edwardian costumes added class to the piece. However, in this production–the real star–who gives a younger and more romantic edge as  Henry Higgins is Nick Sandys.

As I said in 2009 that still applies today: “Sandys, a great classic trained actor, was born to play Higgins–a role that necessitates an actor with a rich assortment of talent equally at home with the biting humor and wit of the Shavian style. Sandys effectively plays Higgins as both the arrogant, self-adsorbed bachelor and the lonely soul whose transformation is complete as he falls for Eliza. Sandys’s debonair, charming persona works to move the Higgins-Eliza relationship from a father-daughter to a man-women relationship.  Nick Sandys nailed all aspects of Higgins deftly and, he demonstrates strong singing skills, which is unusual for the role. Nick Sandys’s performance as Henry Higgins was fresh, complete and fully realized–he gave the finest performance I’ve witnessed this year!”

Sample music from My Fair Lady:

Nick Sandys speak about Higgins in Pygmalion and My Fair Lady:

Highly Recommended

Tom Williams

For more info checkout the My Fair Lady page attheatreinchicago.com

At Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson, Evanstion, IL, call 847-920-5360, musictheaterworks.com, tickets begin at $34, Wednesday, June 8 at 2 pm, Thursday, June 9 at 2 pm, Friday, June 10 at 8 pm, Saturday, June 11 at 8 pm, Sunday, June 12 at 2 pm, running time is 3 hours, 10 minutes with permission, through June 12.