Productions - My Fair Lady
Toe-tapping tunes, sing-along songs and a host of colourful charachters - essential ingredients for the opening night of the well-known rags to riches story of My Fair Lady, as perfrmed by Hereford Amateur Operatic Society at the Courtyard last Friday.
The audience was immediately engaged by the evocative overture performed by the orchestra under the talented baton of Steve Tommey. Curtains opened to reveal a large and imposing set, abounding with the rich street-life of Covent Garden. As always, George Powell's attention to detail was striking, from the copious basets of flowers to the flickering fire - the audience was captivated.
Sarah Phillips, as Eliza, metamorphasised beautifully from the caterpillar to the butterfly, really coming into her own as the elegant 'princess at the ball'. Peter Hill, a very charismatic Higgins, commended the stage brilliantly, extracting every ounce of humour, pace and pathos from the role.
The roguish 'bit of rough', Alfie Doolittle, played to perfection by Paul Morris, added comedy and energy to the production, and the meorable chorus rendition of Get Me To The Church On Time was complimented superbly by the innovative choreography of Sarah Jane Price, including everything from cartwheels to the conga!
Some fine supporting roles played by Mike Tomkins, Richard Smith, Marion Edwards and Del Barrington added to the performance, as did the stunning costumes, particularly in the beautiful Ascot tableau, and some imaginative lighting by Sue Grenfell.
And the sign of a good musical? As the audience left the building they were still humming those familiar tunes!
