My Fair Lady

Ever since I was a child I enjoyed theatrical visual extravaganzas and thanks to dedicated, passionate producers like John Frost we are lucky we're still able to view some of these timeless classics of musical theatre. Coupled with the spectacle of this stunning revival of the original 1956 production is of course a superb memorable score and adaptation of Shaw's Pygmalion, and it's inspiring to see how this musical version brought the play to life despite Shaw's chagrin at musical transformations of his plays and his subsequent prevention. Incredible too that there were so many obstacles previous to Lerner and Loewe's eventual completion of the project.

Julie Andrews as director couldn't have been a better choice with her experience, extensive knowledge and participation as leading lady in the original production and one can't help think what it must have felt like to see elements of her past come to life again; and with such a superb cast such as Anna O'Byrne in the title role and Charles Edwards as Professor Higgins. Equally impressive is Reg Livermore as Eliza's father and Tony Llewellen-Jones as Pickering. The list goes on.

The mammoth task of researching the original production and employing the likes of one of costume designer Cecil Beaton's assistants John David Ridge, set designer Oliver Smith's assistant Rosaria Sinisi and lighting designer Richard Pilbrow shines through in this production with its pure professionalism and immaculate attention to detail.

Even if you're over-familiar with this famous show, this is a production well worth visiting.

Brian Adamson

Photographer: Jeff Busby