BWW Reviews: MY FAIR LADY Shines at The MUNY

My Fair Lady is a classic musical, and a perfect opening show for The Muny's 97th season. Even the threat of rain couldn't dampen the high spirits of this show, and in most unlikely fashion, the skies cleared and provided us with a terrific evening of song, dance, and romance. Based on G.B. Shaw's superb play Pygmalion, whose basic story has been reworked for all manner of media, there's no denying how well the concept still holds up. The incredibly memorable score (book & lyrics Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Lowe), in combination with a marvelous cast, makes for a full evening of wit and charm. The Muny's production is truly an elegant must-see presentation!

The story follows Shaw's original concept, and deals with a cockney lass named Eliza Doolittle whose accent catches the ear of phoneticist Henry Higgins. His theory is that it's the horrible dialects that separate the classes, and he vows that he can make Eliza sound like a proper English lady in six months. Thus begins a learning experience that blossoms into romance.

Alexandra Silber is exceptional as Eliza Doolittle, capturing the voice and temperament of someone who yearns for so much more out of life, but is struggling along as a flower girl. She does splendid vocal work on "Just You Wait" and "Without You", but really lets her voice shine on "I Could Have Danced All Night". Anthony Andrews is equally strong as task master Professor Henry Higgins, and though he possesses a stern demeanor, you can't help but root for them to become a pair. Matthew Scott does nice work as Eliza's suitor, Freddy, and Michael McCormick is also quite good as Eliza's perpetually inebriated father, Alfred. Paxton Whitehead has fun as Colonel Pickering, and Zoe Vonder Haar neatly reprises her work as Higgins' mother (she also took on the role with considerable aplomb in Stages St.Louis' 2013 production).

Mark Bruni directs with just the right touch, slightly subtle at times, and broad when the action calls for it. He's aided by Chris Bailey's lively choreography, and Timothy R. Mackabee's gorgeous scenic design, which crams Higgin's study with an unbelievable amount of art. Ben Whiteley's music direction makes wonderful use of The Muny's orchestra and this lush score. Amy Clark's costumes delineate the various characters and their classes, and John Lasiter keeps it all well lit and focused.

This "loverly" production of My Fair Lady continues at The Muny through June 21, 2015.

Photo credit: Phillip Hamer