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My Fair Lady

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

9 October-2 November 2008
Theatre Royal
108 King St, Sydney

Pygmalion, an ancient Greek sculptor, carves the perfect female and proceeds to fall in love with her. King Cophetua finds it impossible to fall for any woman, until he spies a beggar girl on the street whom he tutors, eventually crafting her into the role of his Queen.

These two tales have been reincarnated in multiple mutations and have become some of the most famous fictional characters in modern history. They formed the basis for George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play, Pygmalion, which in turn was the foundation for Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's hugely successful 1956 Broadway musical, My Fair Lady.

The story starts when Higgins places a bet that he can mould the cockney Eliza Doolittle into an emblem of all things upper-class. Upon creating his model, he falls for her but she in turn rejects him and some of his teachings, for the time being.

Due to the popularity of the current Opera Australia production, this season is also being extended, this time with the addition of international film star, Richard E. Grant, in the role of the Pygmalion-esque, Professor Henry Higgins.

This glamorous production of comedy and romance is draped in decadent sets and costumes with some of the most recognizable songs in theatre. It also reinstates the truism that you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl.

Julianne Gill

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