REVIEW: MY FAIR LADY, MILTON MUSICAL SOCIETY, REGENT CENTRE

This is the 50th anniversary production from this multi-talented company ... and it’s a fantastic show!

Featuring a vivacious cast of more than 60, a superb 12-piece live orchestra, and some wonderful vocals, this is the ever-popular story of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw’s study of the English language – Pygmalion.

Set in 1912 London, before the First World War and Votes For Women!, the compelling storytelling turns into a lively love story with some catchy unforgettable musical numbers.

Particularly outstanding is the prickly chemistry between Alex Cook’s pedantic Henry Higgins, and Amy McIntosh’s spiky Eliza Doolittle, both vocally brilliant on the humorous The Rain In Spain and the intensely moving Without You.

Denis Osment conveys the sensitive Colonel Pickering as an effective counterpoint to Higgins’ arrogance, and Adam Davis succeeds as the lovelorn Freddy on the longing Street Where You Live.

Among the many compelling minor characters, Mark Ward is vivid as Eliza’s drunken Dad Alfred, and Silma RamsayWack is completely convincing as the lovingly correct Mrs Pearce.

One of the most testing scenes in the play is the ensemble piece Ascot Gavotte, yet the company convey the excitement, drama and realism of the horse-race through terrific acting, clever special effects, and backdrop silhouettes.

Stage sets are cleverly convincing, costumes are authentic, and choreography is very neat considering the large cast. And humour softens the sometimes dark tone.

Runs until Saturday.

Brendan McCusker