1994 My Fair Lady

BWT Review

A Luvverly Night Out

My Fair Lady Witham Amateur Operatic Society

FULL of humour and talent, Witham Amateur Operatic Society’s My Fair Lady was proof that you need not venture to the bright lights of the West End to see a top quality show.The popular tale of Professor Henry Higgins and common cockney flowergirl named Eliza Doolittle brought the stage at Witham Public Hall alive.

Alison Brewer stole the show with her realistic, humorous and touching portrayal of Eliza, in the musical. The highly talented performer enchanted the audience from the moment she appeared on stage, with her cockney dialect and Wouldn’t it be Luvverly — perhaps one of the best known songs – which was excellent. Her strong performance continued to the end, by when Higgins has transformed her into a well-spoken lady.

David Adams was brilliant as the stubborn Prof Higgins, who takes on Eliza as a bet with his pal Colonel Pickering. The banter and rapport between Eliza and Higgins was wonderful - the pair were great together. Pickering, played by Nicholas Clough, was the sobering influence on Higgins and he gave an outstanding performance. Other standards that enchanted the audience included I Could have Danced all Night and Get Me to the Church on Time.

In the supporting cast, Tony Wood as Alfred P Doolittle, Philip Cousins as Freddy Eynsford Hill, Edna Starling as Mrs Higgins and Lydia Clough as Mrs Pearce, were all praiseworthy for their acting and singing. The performances in the chorus and dance scenes were top-class, with some stunning routines in eye-catching costumes.

Credit must also go to producer Edwina McKay, choreographer Lavinia Farmer and musical director Jill Parkin. The whole show was very slick and the fact that tickets were sold out before it started a week-long run — which ended on Saturday says it all!

AMANDA STOCKS