| Saturday, August 15, 2009 |
| Wouldn't it be loverly? |
We went to see the Lamplighters' production of "My Fair Lady" today. The company usually does Gilbert & Sullivan, but after seeing several of their shows, I'm at the point now where I'll go see whatever they do, since I know it'll be high quality. "My Fair Lady" was no exception -- the star trio of Sharon Rietkerk (Eliza), Tom Reardon (Higgins) and Geoff Hoyle (Alfred) was fabulous. I kind of had to twist Joe's arm to get him to come along, but he had a good time, and he had a front row seat to look at the beautiful lead actress!
I've seen the film version of "Lady" several times, despite the fact that it always ticks me off that Audrey Hepburn was cast as Eliza instead of Julie Andrews. I mean, I love Audrey -- who doesn't -- but she couldn't sing the vocally demanding role, so Marni Nixon had to dub her voice. Yes, even though the film was released before I was born, I can still work up a righteous anger about it on Andrews' behalf.
There is a rumor that a new version of "Lady," with Keira Knightley in the lead role, will soon be in production. I can't imagine remaking "Lady" in this day and age. Even as a period piece, some of it just seems faintly ridiculous to a modern audience. I must admit that I tittered when the misogynistic Henry Higgins -- who has recently allowed a male friend, Col. Pickering, to move in with him -- declared himself a "confirmed bachelor." One of his big numbers is entitled "A Hymn to Him," with the repeated refrain, "Why can't a woman be more like a man?" "Men are so friendly, good natured and kind/A better companion you never will find." If you love men so much, why not marry one? (Provided you live in Massachusetts or Iowa, of course.)
At the end of the show, Eliza -- whose initial goal was to get a job working in a posh flower shop -- only seems to have two options: marry the insufferable Freddy, who has a title but no money, or stay with the downright cruel Higgins, who assures her that he will never change his ways and that he treats everyone poorly. Of course, she returns to Henry, who we are led to believe was heartbroken by her departure but he celebrates her comeback by barking, "Eliza, where the devil are my slippers?"
I like to think that Eliza gets some start-up money from Col. Pickering and opens a high end florist shop, specializing in arrangements for upper crust galas. Henry's mom Mrs. Higgins helps her develop a client base. Doolittle's Flowers becomes a massive success, and Eliza is able to employ some of her old flower girl friends to help create the bouquets. She hires Freddy as her deliveryman. Meanwhile, "confirmed bachelors" Pickering and Higgins travel the world together, making recordings of unusual dialects, and Alfred P. Doolittle uses his £4000 a year allowance to open his own pub. They all live happily ever after. |
posted by 125records @ 7:24 PM  |
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Name: Sue
Home: San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
About Me: Email me: talk at interbridge dot com
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I love this post