Description
Foothill College is proud to commemorate the grand opening of the new Lohman Theatre with a delightful presentation of My Fair Lady. This charming musical is directed by Jay Manley and features Mindy Lym as the boisterous Eliza Doolittle and Kit Wilder as the condescending Professor Henry Higgins. Uneducated, unrefined cockney Eliza is transformed into a respectable, well-spoken lady by the arrogant and merciless linguistics professor, Henry Higgins. Higgins is intent on overcoming Eliza's rough and crude demeanor and "unforgivable" abuse of the English language in order to win a bet and to prove his intellect and skill to himself and to others. The result is a frustrating yet hilarious struggle between Eliza and Higgins. The masterful script delicately touches upon the differences between men and women and the classist social structure found in London at the turn of the century. However, the musical is so full of life and song, it is easy to overlook the underlying social commentary. The scaled-down production is being hailed as a "jewel box" presentation; indeed, no microphones are needed in this cozy 150-seat theater. The small space works well for the acoustics of this joyful musical. Those sitting in the first row will find themselves just a few feet away from the actors themselves; every seat is a good seat at the Lohman Theatre. The intimate nature of the theater presented a unique problem for director Jay Manley: how does one do justice to such a well known, grand Broadway classic on such a tiny stage? Manley's solution involves a two piano accompaniment (pianists Sylvia Chen and Matt Hohensee), and some very clever stage craft. Two grand pianos along with two talented pianists sit on stage facing each other through out the entire performance. The effect is not at all distracting as one may think, the pianos successfully blend into the scenery. The pianos are not intended to be ignored by the audience and actors - they provide a place to put gramophones when the stage is converted into Higgins' office, the pianist themselves almost become actors, silently chatting with passer-bys in the background during scenes that take place on the street in Covent Garden. The transitions between scenes are swift and efficient; the addition of a doorway and a few pieces of furniture transforms a London street into Higgins' home. Surly even those very familiar with previous productions of My Fair Lady will not be disappointed. In fact, performances are anything but disappointing. Mindy Lyn's strong and clear voice is a triumph through out such beloved tunes as "Wouldn't it be Loverly?," "The Rain in Spain," and "I Could've Danced all Night." Her fresh face lights up the stage with a charming and energetic performance as Eliza. Eliza appears child-like and innocent in comparison to Professor Higgins, who is magnificently played by Kit Wilder as a no nonsense advocate for the purity of the English language. Kit Wilder retains his character's snarky personality through his interpretation of "Why Can't the English?" and "A Hymn to Him (Why Can't a Woman?)." While the relationship between Eliza and Higgins cannot be described as romantic, their interaction certainly does resemble a tired relationship between a married couple. Colonel Pickering, played by John Musgrave and Mrs. Pearce, played by Linda Piccone, do everything that can to neutralize Eliza and Professor Higgins' frequent quarrels. Even though they are supposed to be on Higgins' side, there is a distinct sympathy and compassion for Eliza that emerges from both characters as the story develops. The supporting cast adds a glorious amount of energy and fun to the performance. Carefully arranged dances (choreographed by Tyler Risk) and lovable songs fill the small stage and are sure to enchant audiences of all ages. Costumes appear to be attentively designed and crafted, convincingly depicting London slums and also a high society embassy ball. Indeed, the costumes do help a great deal in setting the tone and mood for certain scenes, in particular, the scene at the Royal Ascot races. Costume designer Julie Engelbrecht even gives a thoughtful nod to George Cuckor's film version in this scene, dressing all race attendees in black and white and gray. Ladies gowns are irresistible glamorous, especially Eliza's beaded chiffon dress that she wears to the embassy ball. -Alba De Santiago Performances: Through March 16 Tickets: $10-$24