Performance

VenuePalace Theatre
TownManchester
CountyGreater Manchester
From28th September 2005
Opened5th October 2005
To5th November 2005
When19:30. Sat Mat 14:30
What is currently on at Palace Theatre (V490)

My Fair Lady

My Fair LadyT0875923036
Based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Lerner and Loewe's multi-award winning musical became one of the greatest successes of the New York and London stages, and paved the way for the hugely popular film version in 1964. Henry Higgins, an opinionated linguistics professor and confirmed bachelor, makes a wager with a colleague that within six months he can transform a cockney flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, into a lady who can take her place in high society. He wins the bet, but doesn't bargain for the profound effect she has on his life. The musical includes such hits as 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'On The Street Where You Live'.
Book by Alan J Lerner
Lyrics Alan J Lerner
Music Frederick Loewe


Archive :: production:T0875923036, musical:S1616, venue:V490
Current production:Work

Production details

Website

Reviews

Overall: 3.00
USER (22Nov05): My Fair Lady by Lerner & Loewe Birmingham Hippodrome, Monday 21 November 2005 My Fair Lady is a musical classic with so many memorable songs and a charming story of rags to riches. This Cameron Mackintosh and National Theatre production is on a grand scale with a cast of over 35 on stage and a full 15-piece orchestra to boot. Adapted from Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion” this is a world class touring musical. Designer Anthony Ward has created a series of wonderful and sumptuous sets that compliment both the story and the music but I found them rather sombre particularly Professor Higgins library and the lighting did not make the most of the sets. After the nighttime scene in Covent Garden I expected brightness but it all appeared too subdued. In addition the spot lighting was all over the place at last nights performance. Matthew Bourne’s choreography and musical staging is perfect providing visually stunning dance routines. The highlight being the ‘Ascot Gavotte’ which was a visual treat and displayed the dancers at their very best. The costumes were superb. Christopher Cazenove appears to be a commanding Professor Higgins a difficult role to step into because most people associate it with Rex Harrison. His vocals are however inconsistent and his ‘Why can’t the English?’ was particularly shaky although he quickly settled down giving a much better reading of ‘I’m an Ordinary Man’. Amy Nuttall that well known TV face from Emmerdale looked the part and gave a spirited performance but once again her vocals were not consistent and overall it was not the best Eliza that I have seen. She did however look stunning in the ball gown and was at her best in the amusing scenes. Entertainer Russ Abbot gave of his best to the role of Alfred P Doolittle, following in the footsteps of Stanley Holloway and raising the roof with both of his numbers ‘With a Little Bit of Luck’ and ‘Get Me to the Church on Time’ The ever-stylish Honor Blackman in a cameo role as Mrs Higgins scored highly with the audience and looked every bit the part. Stephen Moore is a likeable Colonel Pickering sparring well with Christopher Cazenove. Stephen Carlile was Freddy Eynsford-Hill and made for the ideal romantic lead to Amy Nuttall’s Eliza. I was disappointed there was no full overture as this musical deserves that marvellous build up prior to the curtain rising. It would also have been wonderful to hear such a large orchestra playing, as this is a rarity in touring productions. On a comfort note if the cold weather continues I’d wrap up warm because it was ‘bloomin’ freezing at the back of the dress circle! The show continues until Saturday 3 December. Clive Fuller 3

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Company

Producer David Ian (for Clear Channel Entertainment)
Producer NETworks Presentation
Producer Cameron Mackintosh
Director Trevor Nunn
Design Anthony Ward
Choreographer Matthew Bourne
Lighting David Hersey
Music Stephen Brooker (musical supervision)
Music William David Brohn (orchestration)
Music Chris Walker (dance-music arrangement)
Sound Paul Groothuis)
Performer Christopher Cazenove (Henry Higgins)
Performer Russ Abbot (Alfred P Doolittle Jan06 24 - Feb06 4)
Performer Gareth Hale (Alfred P Dolittle - Feb06 6-18 / Mar 14-Apr 1)
Performer Honor Blackman (Mrs Higgins)
Performer Amy Nuttall (Eliza - some dates)
Performer Lisa O'Hare (Eliza - some dates)
Performer Stephen Moore (Colonel Hugh Pickering)
Performer Stephen Carlile (Freddy Eynsford Hill)
Performer Romy Baskerville (Mrs Pearce)
Performer Charlie Bull
Performer Ian Caddick
Performer Mark Christopher
Performer Michael Cotton
Performer Kate Coysten
Performer Jaime Farr
Performer Ben Fleetwood Smyth
Performer Nicola Filshie
Performer Chris Gardner
Performer Matt Harrop
Performer Shirley Jameson
Performer Tim Laurent
Performer Brenda Martindale
Performer Stephen McCarthy
Performer Judith Paris
Performer Nicolas Pinto-Sander
Performer Carl Sanderson
Performer Myra Sands
Performer Sarah Thornton
Performer Jon Tsouras
Performer Craig Turner
Performer Stephen Watts
Performer Sally Whitehead
Performer Anthony Whiteman
Performer Gareth Williams
Performer Natalie Williams
Performer Danielle Young
CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

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