My Fair Lady
Presented by: Opera Australia
Date Reviewed: Friday 16th May, 2008
Venue: State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre
Reviewer: Simon Parris

                                              Above: At the Ascot Races. Opera Australia's My Fair Lady MA08 © Jeff Busby

 

Relative newcomer Taryn Fiebig has joined some of Australia’s most experienced performers to bring Lerner & Loewe’s
classic but evergreen musical to life.

It will most likely be a very long time until a production can boast four senior performers with as many years of experience as Reg Livermore, Nancye Hayes, Judi Connelli and Rhys McConnochie. Each of these performers breathes new life into roles that are extremely familiar. Supported by a ravishing production that spins along at full pelt, the combined result is an unforgettable night of music theatre.

                             

Left: Alfred P Doolittle (Robert Grubb) with Music Hall patrons in Opera Australia's My Fair Lady MA08 © Jeff Busby
 

Director Stuart Maunder (also Executive Producer for Opera Australia) has carefully assembled a stellar team to do full justice to this beloved show. Tony award winning costume designer Roger Kirk (The King & I) has used a glorious palette of peach, mauve, lavender and scarlet along with black, white and grey to adorn the company. Mrs Higgins is a vision in antique grey at Ascot and is followed by a parade of outrageously stunning racegoers whose splendid attire fully deserved the opening night applause. Other highlights were Eliza’s crystal white ball gown with red velvet beaded cape and her final floating lilac chiffon.

Designer Richard Roberts has not only created a beautiful array of sets but has also come up with a way to change them using a revolve so that the action never pauses for even a second. Even if scenes sometimes begin or end with set changes it is worth it for the pace achieved in this (usually) very long show. Minor quibbles include the fact that there was no bed for Eliza in ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, and there was no ‘27A’ on the front of Higgins’ house. The sets were somewhat on the small side for the State Theatre stage but this production needs to fit in house across the country so that is understandable. The multitude of sets, including two different settings in the Higgins’ home, was extremely impressive.

                                                        Right: Eliza Doolittle (Taryn Fiebig) with Cockney market sellers
                                                                     in Opera Australia's My Fair Lady MA08 © Jeff Busby
 

Julia de Plater conducted Orchestra Victoria in an excellent rendition of the score, including several colourful flourishes to highlight key phrases in the score. Elizabeth Hill’s choreography was generally subtle and unobtrusive. ‘Ascot Gavotte’ was particularly effective in using the revolve with very little choreographed movement from the cast. ‘Get Me To the Church on Time’ was just about the expected showstopper it should be. Pearly Kings and Queens and spoon percussion added to the fun of this number.

Reg Livermore was in absolutely brilliant form as Professor Henry Higgins. Given that Mr Livermore is prone to long pauses, camp and larger than life characterisation (all when they are called for) it was amazing to see him underplay Higgins so meticulously. Every possible laugh was neatly wrung from his lines and the way he played Higgins’ devastation at realising he may have lost his beloved Eliza was heartbreaking.

Left: Henry Higgins (Reg Livermore) & Eliza Doolittle (Taryn Fiebig)
in Opera Australia's My Fair Lady MA08 © Jeff Busby
 

Taryn Fiebig was solid but not quite involving as ‘cockney’ Eliza. However, once Eliza was transformed into a ‘Lady’ Ms Fiebig’s performance really took off. Her soprano voice was exquisite in ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ and ‘Without You’. She was absolutely hilarious in the Ascot tea party scene, but the real was strength was in the dignity and grace Ms Fiebig brought to the transformed Eliza. Her fragility was palpable after the ball and the effort it took Eliza to deal with Higgins at his Mother’s house was clearly visible. This was an excellent performance overall.

Rhys McConnochie was a jolly, warm hearted Colonel Pickering. He enjoyed great chemistry with Mr Livermore. Judi Connelli brought colour and pathos to the supporting role of Higgins’ housekeeper Mrs Pearce. It made perfect sense that a professor of speech would employ a housekeeper with such perfect diction. Ms Connelli also had fun dressing up as the Queen of Transylvania for the Embassy Ball. Nancye Hayes was class personified as the haughty but dear Mrs Higgins.

Robert Grubb, although looking a trifle young, gave robust support as Alfie Doolittle. Matthew Robinson looked extremely handsome and was in fine voice as Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Nick Christo was a suitably slimy Zoltan Karpathy. (It must be noted that it was a very odd choice by the directors not to have Karpathy finally cornering Eliza at the ball for the Act One curtain). Ensemble members Hester van der Vyver and Glaston Toft stood out in featured roles.

My Fair Lady runs for two weeks until Saturday 31^st May before touring Australia. Attendance is very strongly recommended.
Bookings are through Ticketmaster.
 

Mrs Higgins (Nancye Hayes), Eliza Doolittle (Taryn Fiebig) & Henry Higgins (Reg Livermore) at Ascot
in Opera Australia's My Fair Lady MA08 © Jeff Busby

 

Simon has appeared in more than 30 productions over the past twenty years. Recent roles include Eugene Fodor in Crazy for You (Whitehorse) and Mr Fox in Mack and Mabel (CLOC). Other favourite roles include Max in The Sound of Music, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Julio in Paint Your Wagon, Marcellus in The Music Man and Grantaire in Les Miserables. In 2005, Simon was nominated for a Guild Award in the category Best Cameo Performance for his role as the Judge in Hello, Dolly! (Whitehorse). He is also a keen audience member, having seen over 50 shows in five weeks on a recent trip to New York and London.

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