My Fair Lady Tour

RippedMan said: "So the tour is playing the Dolby Theater here in Los Angeles in Oct. Did anyone seen it before the shutdown? Did it even have any performances? Curious to know the changes to the set design and if she leaves from the audience, etc."

I am curious as well. The Dolby is such a horrible space for legit theater. It would take a lot for me to see a show there.

---

I saw one of the first tech performances back in December 2019. It was obviously a long time ago at this point, but the set was largely the same, just a bit smaller. There was another thread where we talked about the changes (which were few).

Yesterday I bit the bullet and bought my first ticket to see a live theatrical show since I saw the touring production of Anastasia on March 5, 2020.

Seeing MFL this Saturday evening in Oklahoma City. I didn’t completely love the production when I saw it at LCT, but I think after 19 months away from live theater and sitting second row center orchestra, I’ll have a great (if emotional) time.

I really deliberated on this for weeks before I bought my ticket yesterday because even though the theater is requiring proof of vaccination (or proof of a negative test in lieu of POV only if you’re under 12, have medical/religious exemption), upgraded air filtration system, and mask requirement, I visit my mom in a nursing home twice a week. Yes, we’re both fully vaccinated, but if I somehow infected her, it could have catastrophic consequences for the other residents and staff.

But this feels as safe as it can be. I’ll still skip seeing her next Tuesday (I’ll call instead) and until I feel enough time has elapsed that I can trust a Covid test result.

I’m still going back & forth on my ticket for next Tuesday’s St. Vincent concert. I bought my ticket back in June when things were looking up. Things are looking up again, but Oklahoma still lags in vaccination rates. At least she is requiring POV or proof of negative antigen test 48 hours prior. No mask mandate though. Also, although they reduced ticket sales to less than capacity (I think it’s a relatively small space; never been before), it is general admission. Decisions, decisions…

Anyway, when I was looking at the My Fair Lady tour website I noticed they only had Oklahoma & Los Angeles (for 3 weeks) listed as tour stops so I don’t know if we are the first stop of the tour or if there were other dates that they’ve deleted since they’ve already happened. It does say more dates to come though. Otherwise I guess it would be a pretty short tour. LOL.

I’ll try to report back with my mini-review after Saturday!

I saw the My Fair Lady tour tonight.

Some thoughts:

I saw the LCT revival with Lauren Ambrose. From what I remember, Shereen Ahmed sells the comedy more in the first act than Ambrose did.

I think it’s partially attributable to the sound mix and most of the cast leaning into their cockney(?) accents, but especially in Act I I had a hard time deciphering a lot of what was said or sung. I don’t recall having this problem at LCT.

Despite this I really liked the performances, particularly Ahmed, Kevin Pariseau (Colonel Pickering), Laird Mackintosh (Henry Higgins), Sam Simahk (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), Gayton Scott (Mrs. Pearce), Adam Grupper (Alfred P. Doolittle), and Leslie Alexander (Mrs. Higgins).

I was worried they’d tone down the “Get Me To The Church On Time” diversity of gender expression in that scene, but to my pleasant surprise, they didn’t.

The new ending still doesn’t work for me. I applaud that they wanted to end with a feminist spin while also largely adhering to the original script. But I think it actually works less well on tour. At least at LCT, Eliza exited down the aisle in the orchestra. Tonight she just walked off stage. A lot less dramatic.

Despite my reservations, I was thrilled to be seeing live theater again after 576 days away.

Updated On: 10/3/21 at 01:35 AM

I just saw the tour stop in LA. It is a very good touring production. The two leads are wonderful. It is playing to low attendance here . It is a shame. I do not understand why a lottery or rush program is not in motion. The Dolby theater is a characterless barn in a strip mall. It is really a television studio built in the guise of a theater for televised events ( Oscars, American Idol) . Traffic in this area of Hollywood is unpredictable. At Friday nights show people were still streaming into the theater 30 minutes into the first act, Metal detectors and vaccine checkpoints were also slow moving lines.. and this with a somewhat empty house. But still.. coming off a pandemic.. why can't they have more options for attending available?

---

bear88 said: "I am still skittish about attending a show in a packed theater, especially after seeing My Fair Ladyin New York City two years ago. The musical seems to be selling better in San Francisco even though it doesn’t open until next month.

The Dolby sounds awful. 3,400 seats in a theater with no atmosphere?"

You are right. It is awful. And the audience behaves poorly in part because of the nightmare they go thru to get to their seats ( at least the night I saw it). Between the traffic, and the horrid parking structure; by the time folks get to their seats they are so wound up.. they forget where they are.

---

Dame, I was surprised to find there's no lottery or rush, but the back of the mezz (the balcony is closed) is only $30, and with fees comes out to be about $42, so not awful. I think I'll just buy one of the cheap seats and hopefully move up when the lights go down. 

I mean, sure, some of us are on a budget. 

I've done that in the past, and I've been doing it with Hamilton. 

QueenTwinnied said: "Highland Guy said: "RippedMan said: "I think I'll just buy one of the cheap seats and hopefully move up when the lights go down."

And flip your finger to all the audience members who paid full price for a better seat. Jeez."



Oh please. It’s really not an issue and I’ve seen ushers actively encourage it in the past if there are open seats closer to the stage. Get off your high horse."

Oh please.  It really IS an issue, at least for those of us with integrity.

 

---

Updated On: 10/15/21 at 12:22 PM

I've been bumped forward at many shows on Broadway and even concerts like at the Beacon. It's not that uncommon. 

The elitism in this thread is funny. I'm broke but love theater. The main way I'm able to see shows is through SRO, and over half the time ushers move me to a *good* orchestra seat during intermission. The seat is empty for crying out loud. When I saw Bette Midler in Dolly, they moved me to a fifth-row center aisle seat. Get over yourself

Updated On: 10/15/21 at 01:21 PM