Today's Sunday matinee was Lauren's last performance. Glad that the house was completely sold out, with myself even having to put out for a mid-premium seat.
Almost embarrassed to say that this was the fifth time for me, starting with the second preview. When I'm feeling low, seeing this musical provides an instant lift. My age also dictates that this will be the last go-around for my seeing any of these dear musicals from my past in such rich productions.
I think that Lauren has steadily improved in the role. I did miss Harry. Not that his understudy was poor, but I would have liked to see one more second act confrontation between the two.
At intermission I actually became involved with two separate parties in a discussion of the Ascot scene. It was all admiration for this scene from the costumes and lighting through the unique movement and song of the chorus to Lauren's perfectly timed laugh lines.
Note: Satisfying to me, as a great proponent of Ascot, to read that Lauren and the cast regarded it very highly.
At curtain call not much fuss was made. I almost expected Sher to be present, but instead senior cast member Butz presented Ambrose with flowers and made a needless political speech on how Ambrose's Eliza was to be included in the heavens with Andrews and Hepburn for she had expanded the role to push feminist goals. He prefaced his very short address by saying that Ambrose was an actress who would probably not desire any political labeling. Shaw himself is on very shaky ground with feminists.
That was it, except that as the the woman sitting next to me had sunk back into her seat after the ovation for Ambrose, she could not contain her pride and confided to me that she was Lauren's mother. I took a close look at her. The age did not seem to be there for the mother of a forty year old, but the straight red hair said otherwise. I wish I had soon known earlier. I might have ingratiated myself into an invitation to dine with the family.
No? Well, I might have learned something. I asked her if Lauren had signed for six months, and she told me that she didn't know but believed that Lauren had been offered the job for as long as she wanted it. I brought up the live broadcast of South Pacific in its last week and asked her if she knew of anything similar planned for My Fair Lady. She didn't (was not even aware of South Pacific broadcast), but hoped that Lauren would participate if it happened.
Addendum. At that time I had no idea that Lauren's mother had just lost her husband. She was also very proud of her daughter. Very gracious of her to spend a little time talking to me when she was carrying around these great emotions in her heart.
Updated On: 10/23/18 at 10:18 PM