2007 - My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady
Witham Amateur Operatic Society, Witham Public Hall

The first night of this production was in the finest tradition of musical theatre - put simply, it was superb.

Director and choreographer Cathy Court dealt with its huge scale in apparently effortless style. Ingenuously, the side aisles of the auditorium became an extension of the stage. I loved the cheeky, top-of-curtain heads and the numerous slick scene changes. What a cast - they could all move and stand well.

Musical director Richard Reed must have scarcely believed his luck at the high quality of the singing, from the harmonic household servants led by Liz Watson's Mrs Pierce, to Tim Clarke's grasp of the difficult range in Freddy Eynsford-Hill's “On The Street Where You Live” and Chris Cordelier's exuberant Alfred Doolittle.

Rachel Clapp was delightful, spot on the note, in the title role. Professor Higgins was outstanding; the resources that David Slater brought to this role showed he is an all-round performer. Both he and Nicholas Clough, who played Colonel Pickering, gave this Fair Lady real musicality.

Review by Pat Rudkins