Review: MY FAIR LADY, Mayflower Theatre - Tour
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
The iconic My Fair Lady has arrived in Southampton and it couldn’t be more ‘loverly’. As one of the last golden age musicals, this revival hits the high notes and certainly remains one of the most iconic productions in musical theatre history – as well as being British through and through!
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion, the film starred Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins and featured iconic Lerner & Loewe songs such as ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly’. It’s a classic for a reason and, direct from the West End, the Lincoln Center’s dazzling new revival is here to remind us just how timeless this production is. Directed by Bartlett Sher, this new production – the first major revival in fifteen years – comes with revitalised sets, costumes and musical arrangements. The score has never sounded as magnificent as it does here under the musical direction of Alex Parker.
My Fair Lady tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller who meets Henry Higgins - a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into a “proper lady”.
Taking on such an iconic role like Eliza can’t be easy, but Charlotte Kennedy rises to the occasion in a truly spellbinding performance. Kennedy is a remarkable talent and certainly delivers a tour de force performance. With beautiful vocals and fantastic acting, she is a total joy to watch. The role of Eliza’s father, Alfred P Doolittle, is played by the very likeable Adam Woodyatt, latterly of Eastenders fame. He certainly provides the light relief with ‘I’m Getting Married in the Morning’. Michael D. Xavier, playing Henry Higgins, is younger than previous choices for this role. Xavier plays an eccentric Henry Higgins with a comedy twist. He is a fine actor with a great singing voice. Lesley Garrett plays the funny, loveable Mrs Pearce beautifully, with her endearing broad Yorkshire accent – and by george, she’s still got it!
Everything about this show is pitched exactly right. The actors are superb, the sets are perfect, the singing is lovely and the orchestra is, as always, a beautiful necessity to the action on stage. The theatre was packed last night and it was obvious from the very beginning that this was going to be a spectacularly good production. The audience reacted with a loud and long applause for the cast, a standing ovation and many singing the tunes on their way out!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Ryan Bishop
My Fair Lady plays at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton until 29 January 2023, with tickets available here.