‘My Fair Lady’

Press, 8 July 1982, Page 4

‘My Fair Lady’

“My Fair Lady,” by Lerner and Loewe, directed by Penny Giddens for St Joseph’s Light Operatic Society, at the Repertory Theatre, July 7 to 17, 8 p.m. to 11.5 p.m. Reviewed by Philip Norman. "With a Little Bit of Luck,” “I Could have Danced All Night,” “On the Street Where You Live," "Get Me to the Church on Time” — the immortal songs of "My fair Lady” need no introduction. They are household tunes, enjoyed by all, memorable and indestructible.

The St Joseph’s Light Operatic Society has treated these melodies favourably and with care. Apart from an occasional unscored bump and grind from the orchestra pit, each number was delivered with energy and conviction and a surprising amount

of musical consideration. Central to’the plot are the characters of Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, and central to- the success of the production at the Repertory Theatre last evening were the .performances by the two actors playing these roles. Craig Hood as the irascible Higgins was superb. His was a mature performance that belied his tender years: his character acting was at all times consistent, his diction crystal clear, and his ability at handling, the “Rex Harrison” half-sung half-spoken rhythms commendable. Patsy Baldwin as the “guttersnipe .of a flower girl” likewise, shone, appearancewise in- the later scenes, character-wise in the earlier scenes. Making the transition from Tottenham Court Road to Ascot’ is as diffcult for an I ’ '

actor as it is for someone trying to better himself. Patsy Baldwin handled this dual aspect to the role convincingly. Able support for these two leads came from Mark Wardell as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Kevin Knowles, as Alfred P. Doolittle, and Beryl MacLeod as Mrs Higgins. Costumes by Kathleen Narbey were stunning, while the many scene changes were handled adroitly by the stage manager, Michael Wildermoth. The choreography by George Williams was imaginative but frequently tested . the cast's dancing ability a little too fiercely. In all, it was a highly commendable rendition of this classic musical, one . that was surprisingly well done. C . ' ' ••