Last Chance to see 'My Fair Lady' at the Kennedy Center

By Charles Shubow

One of the many advantages of living in the Baltimore/Washington area is sometimes you get a second chance to see a great show you may have missed.

 

I first saw Trevor Nunn's revival of My Fair Lady at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre and fell in love with this production.

 

I recently went back to see it at Washington's glorious Kennedy Center's Opera House and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it even MORE the second time.

 

So, if you wanted to see it at the Hippodrome but missed it, if you thought you don't want to see an old Lerner and Lowe musical that's been done so many times, the good news is you have until Sunday, January 20 to see it in DC.

 

This is the same production staged in 2001 at London's Royal National Theatre where it won an Olivier Award for outstanding musical production. The esteemed choreographer Matthew Bourne (Tony winner for "Swan Lake") also won an Olivier for his outstanding choreography.

 

You will fall in love with Lisa O'Hare's Eliza Doolittle. It was as if Audrey Hepburn decided to return from the film but this time with a gorgeous voice.

 

The role of Henry Higgins is marvelously portrayed by British actor Christopher Cazenove who seemed sometimes to be playing a game with the musical conductor singing his songs while paying no attention to the man with the baton, James Lowe.

 

Walter Charles nails his role as Col. Pickering. I have to admit I am a huge fan of Charles after his wonderful take as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd  at the Kennedy Center (absent from his bio in the program).

 

Wait until you see Tim Jerome as Eliza's drunken-father, Alfie.  He brings the show to a halt first with "A Little Bit of Luck" (with an adieu to Stomp) and "Get Me to the Church on Time".

 

I got a chance to meet both Shaun Kerrison who is responsible for the direction on tour and Fergus Logan (similar job with the choreography) during intermission. They were thrilled to be at the Kennedy Center. 

 

While I hope this production will continue to Broadway after this national tour, do not risk it. Get to the Kennedy Center by January 20 and don't be late. Since the show is almost three hours, the show is quite punctual. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

 

For comments, email cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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