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THEATRICAL THROWBACK THURSDAY: MY FAIR LADY Through The Years

By: May. 28, 2015
MY FAIR LADY
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In honor of this week's buzz about Colin Firth headlining a Broadway revival (click here to read BWW's story on the news), we turn our attention to Golden Age classic MY FAIR LADY.

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A Hymn To Her

Considered by Broadway babies and entertainment enthusiasts in general to be one of the finest and most recognizable musicals in history, MY FAIR LADY is a perennial favorite not only on Broadway but around the world in both professional venues and regional theaters. Based on George Bernard Shaw's charming and effective tale of a street girl schooled in the ways of high society by a irascible if lovable mentor, PYGMALION, the stage adaptation of the property was shepherded by lyricist and bookwriter Alan Jay Lerner, who secured the rights for the story from film producer Gabriel Pascal in the early 1950s. Over the next several years, Lerner and longtime composing collaborator Frederick Loewe outfitted the tale with several musical showpieces designed to flatter the leading lady while crafting several showstopping musical sequences for secondary characters, as well - indeed, supporting player Freddy is afforded one of the most memorable songs in the gem-packed score, "On The Street Where You Live", while Alfred Doolittle is given the Act 2 stunner "Get Me To The Church On Time", among others. Besides Eliza Doolittle and the featured players, though, MY FAIR LADY is ostensibly all about the leading man, Henry Higgins.

Few performances in Broadway or Hollywood history are as iconic as that of Rex Harrison in MY FAIR LADY, and for good reason: the role was tailor-made to his specific gifts as an actor. Originally offered to Noel Coward and then Harrison, who refused at first but eventually accepted, clearly Harrison was not a strong singer in any traditional sense and that became immediately apparent to the creators, so Lerner & Loewe created several patter songs and spoke-sung musical moments for Harrison that nevertheless landed in a major way when performed by the stalwart stage and screen star - and showed off many of his successors in the role ever since. Indeed, notable essayers of Professor Higgins since Harrison have included Ian Richardson, Tony Britton, Richard Chamberlain, Jonathan Pryce, John Lithgow and Kelsey Grammer, with Academy Award-winning stage and screen star Colin Firth now poised to bring the part firmly into the 21st century for a whole new generation to experience and enjoy in a new production spearheaded by Clive Davis and the Nederlanders.

Of course, the original Broadway production of MY FAIR LADY also boasted a brand new discovery in no less than Dame Julie Andrews as Eliza, thus making the decks stacked even higher for whatever actress is selected to tackle the monster part in the forthcoming revival opposite Firth when it arrives. A star? A newcomer? Whatever the recipe, she has perilously hard shoes to fill given her predecessors - whether the shoes be shabby flats or haute couture high heels; or, in this case, both.

Revisit MY FAIR LADY's original production via this 1971 Tony Awards clip featuring Stanley Holloway.

Also, Julie Andrews recreates some of her standout MY FAIR LADY numbers in 1991.

Movie musical lead Audrey Hepburn awards Rex Harrison the Best Actor Oscar for MY FAIR LADY.

BONUS: Michael Crawford and Julie Andrews make magic in MY FAVORITE BROADWAY: THE LOVE SONGS.

So, what element makes you the most excited about a fresh new revival of MY FAIR LADY arriving on Broadway some season soon? Furthermore, who would be your ideal Eliza to co-star with Colin Firth? Given the richness of the role and the dynamic performance opportunities possible, it could very well be a star-making turn on the level of Dame Julie if cast correctly. So, say a prayer for Eliza tonight!







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