MY FAIR LADY (2018) Previews — Page 18

Musical Master wrote "Now it's gotten me curious as to what does the Convent Garden set look like"

I believe that set is used in The Sound of Music, not this show.

dramamama611 said: "^ But, but, I DESERVE to see it....I live in East Gibip and can't get to NY to see it. It's not fair. Me, me, me, me, me........"

Yup and they’re begging for a 5 second clip. Soon enough, we’ll have press photos and footage.

For those who have seen the previews, does it look like a work in progress or a somewhat finished product already? I'm asking this because I'm considering going to the matinee today (lot of empty seats popped up on telecharge) but I don't want to see something where the kinks still very much need to be worked out.

Put down PYGMALION Dancingthrulife. Lerner decided to write a Shavian Musical not repeat Shaw. An audience that has enjoyed MY FAIR LADY for oh so many years would probably not sit through PYGMALION. He was writing a 1950's Musical. If you compare the scripts you will find his little hints toward a more romantic relationship than Shaw wrote. He knew he would have to give the audience hope that Higgins and Eliza might end up together. The biggest hint is, of course, I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE. Shaw's Higgins would not sing (speak) this song or notion. Though many scenes in the musical are taken directly from the Play, the tone is different, less political, more human. In almost every Musical (especially up to that time) the two protagonists reunite at the end. Even more modern shows. like SWEENEY TODD have them end up together. OK, Todd and Lovitt are dead, but they are dead together. Lerner doesn't go on full-blown, Kiss,sigh, Curtain, applause. He gives the audience what they came for, and have been coming back for over and over for many years. Two different endings, two different shows.

Thanks for the reminder that there is a My Fair Lady Ending thread where people can happily argue about the ending forever.

Good point ravenclaw. But singing a whole song about it puts it in a different light.

So the snow day ended up with me having not much to do. So I decided to try my luck and go to LC to see My Fair Lady. I figured there were bound to be so many empty seats I could score a cheap seat and sit wherever I wanted. And that is exactly what happened. Theater was maybe 1/3 full.

So the show: it’s obviously very early in previews. Lauren Ambrose went up in lines multiple times in the hilarious “done her in/aunt/hat pin” monologue. I thought they cut it. The cool thing was during intermission Bart Sher was asking everyone what they thought and I said “I wish you’d reinstate the done her in/aunt/hat pin monologue.” And he said “oh it’s there, Lauren just blanked out and went up in lines completely.” Also she has a nice soprano but you can tell singing is not her normal because her posture when she sings is really bad. She hunches over and squeezes her knees together. She also has to work on making her accent more consistent.

But otherwise this is a really great production. I loved Harry Hadon-Patton as Higgins. He doesn’t have that sadistic edge that Rex Harrison had — he plays Higgins as more of a complete loner and misanthrope. Only thing was IMO Norbert Leo Butz was a poor substitute for the incomparable Stanley Holloway. For one, he couldn’t dance. But otherwise gorgeous sets, costumes, direction. A lot of potential. The ending is really well done and makes sense. Eliza comes back and sees Higgins listening to her voice recording. She says “I wash my face and hands before I come I did.” Higgins says “Where the devil are my slippers?” Eliza touches his cheek and holds his hand for a minute before leaving.

After the show Bart Sher actually grabbed me and grilled me on what I thought. He said “What do you interpret the ending as?” And I said “I thought she returned to have a sweeter goodbye than she had at his mother’s house but she leaves him.” And he was like “Omg that’s it! That’s exactly what we’re going for but most people don’t get this ending.” He then peppered me on a whole bunch of other things about the show. It was really cool to see a director talking to so many people after a preview.

I am definitely going back with my mom in a few weeks when the show is frozen.

Hmm I think the way Ambrose did it was very effective too. When Higgins said "Where the devil are my slippers" you could see her sigh. Like he was never going to change. So she says goodbye to him but in a sweet way. I actually think the ending is MORE romantic because it's clear it was a painful decision for this Eliza. She still has feelings for Higgins. The fact that she leaves him doesn't mean she doesn't love him.

You describe Ambrose as : She hunches over and squeezes her knees together when she sings.

I'm an amateur but it sounds like she's using her body to support her voice, rather than her breath and diaphragm. Is it typical that a leading lady in this situation would be getting daily coaching from an expert to help her correct this?? Cause it sounds exhausting.

Interesting, thanks poisonivy2 for that.

Poisonivy2....or anyone else, Since you saw the show today and it is fresh on your mind can you talk about staging for those that will not be sitting in the center? If one is sitting in section 100 or like myself section 500, will there be a lot of partial viewed scenes? Again, thank you in advance for anyone who answers this.