My Fair Lady is the latest show from Tip Top Productions. Tip Top Productions is Chester's biggest community theatre group. My Fair Lady is the rags to riches story that follows Eliza Doolittle's journey from lowly flower-seller to being accepted by the upperclasses. The story is a simple one but as director Phil Cross states “It is the complex relationships that explore the differences in classes in 1912” that makes this an interesting plot. The familiar songs such as “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” has meant the musical has endured and is still a popular performance today.
The designer Sarah Oxley had created a set that worked well to indicate the Edwardian era. The street lamps and gobos created a pebbled effect on the stage, indicating the streets of London. The fixed set pieces created interesting levels and were versatile enough to switch between the home of Henry Higgins and then the numerous different locations throughout the play.
The costumes for me were fantastic and really gave a sense of the era the play was set in. The Ball gown Eliza wears for the Embassy Ball was stunning, with the diamante material shimmering under the lights Eliza truly looked like a princess and the costume brought a sense of grandeur to the whole scene.
Eliza Doolittle, played by Hannah Thomas, gave a funny and engaging performance which built to a more stoic performance as the character developed throughout the show. Her songs were executed beautifully with “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” getting the audience swaying and humming along. The highlight for me was the moment she was pronouncing her h’s and because of being told to use her breath and repeat, she repeats till she passes out. The exaggerated facial expressions used and the control of movement made for a truly hilarious moment.
The complex relationship between Eliza and Henry Higgins, played by Mark Shenton, was carefully constructed by the two leads. Both actors worked well together and the dialogue always had an interesting tone and sharp pace to it. This ensured as an audience member I was always involved and interested in the relationship.
Mark Shenton's diction and accent was superbly executed and in no moment did this drop. It was extremely reminiscent of Rex Harrison's portrayal of Professor Henry Higgins.
The comedy relief was found in Rob Tolefree's portrayal of Alfred P Doolittle, Eliza's Father. His quick retorts, larger-then-life movements and expert knowledge of working the audience, ensured his performance was comedy gold. The “Get Me To The Church On Time” number had the whole audience clapping along and laughing away. A special mention must be made to his sidekicks who backed-up the comedy and enhanced the silliness.
Robert Lyon's portrayal of Freddy Esynford Hill was sweet and charming. This was particularly evident in his beautiful singing of “On The Street Where You Live” He captured the innocence of the character well without being too sweet and sentimental.
The choreography by Rhian Lyon was energetic and dynamic. The “Get Me To The Church On Time" choreography was engaging and good fun. It gave the sense of being in the beer hall with the characters and truly being a part of what was going on on stage.
Overall I had a fun time watching the play with some superb individual performances. However for me, it was the sense of fun on stage. Everyone seemed like they were enjoying every minute and that was infectious. If you fancy some good laughs, memorable songs and even a touch of romance then this is the performance to see.
Reviewer - Francesca Eager
on - 4/9/19
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