Nikolai Foster’s revival of My Fair Lady at The Curve is a visual and vocal treat, breathing new life into Lerner and Loewe’s beloved musical. Running until 4th January 2025, this Made at Curve Christmas production dazzles with stunning design, spirited performances, and a vibrant sense of theatricality.
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion, My Fair Lady follows Eliza Doolittle, a feisty flower girl who seeks to elevate her social status by refining her speech under the guidance of the brusque phonetician Professor Henry Higgins. The story explores themes of class, identity, and transformation which hold true over 100 years later, underscored by a timeless score brimming with tunes like “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.”
Michael Taylor’s set and costume design is spectacular. Covent Garden’s wrought iron arches, bustling market stalls, and billowing laundry seamlessly give way to Higgins’ study, a marvel of academia cluttered with curiosities. Transitions are fluid, whisking the audience through pubs, churches, and backstreets with effortless ingenuity. The dynamic staging, featuring actors entering and exiting from multiple directions around the theatre, creates a multidimensional experience that keeps the audience immersed.
Molly Lynch shines as Eliza Doolittle, delivering a commanding and heartfelt performance. Her journey from cockney flower girl to poised lady is both convincing and compelling, her flawless transitions between accents adding credibility to the character’s transformation. Vocally, Lynch is sublime, lending a semi-operatic richness to songs like “The Rain in Spain” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.”
David Seadon-Young’s Henry Higgins is engaging and brings a boyish petulance to the role, with strong chemistry with Lynch. However, Higgins’ persistent disdain and demeaning treatment of Eliza with no attempt to evolve, or even apologise sours the ending. It’s hard to reconcile Eliza’s self-respect with her decision to return to a man who has spent much of the story belittling her.
The supporting cast add much to the show’s charm. Minal Patel brings warmth and whimsy to Colonel Pickering, striking a delightful balance between support and silliness. Steve Furst’s Alfred P. Doolittle is a show-stopping delight, bringing the house down with a raucous rendition of “Get Me to the Church on Time.” Cathy Tyson is charming as the perceptive Mrs Higgins, while Djavan Van De Fliert’s earnest Freddy delivers an endearing rendition of “On the Street Where You Live.”
Joanna Goodwin’s jaunty choreography is a highlight, infusing every ensemble number with energy and flair. George Dyer’s musical supervision ensures the iconic score is rendered with clarity and vibrancy, lifting the audience into the magic of the moment.
While the production excels in humour and visual splendour, it falls short in its emotional depth. Foster’s focus on comedy leaves little space for the more tender, introspective moments, leaving the pivotal relationship between Higgins and Eliza feeling baseless. Their connection lacks the authenticity needed to make Eliza’s choice resonate, particularly given her rejection of the besotted Freddy.
Despite its narrative shortcomings, My Fair Lady at The Curve offers a sumptuous and spirited evening of theatre. Laden with glorious songs, lavish sets, and exuberant performances, this revival brims with charm and spectacle. With a little bit of luck, audiences will be swept away by its exuberance and leave humming its iconic tunes long after the curtain falls.
https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/my-fair-lady/
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Katie Reviews 