My Fair Lady
Mon, 17 July 2000, 03:14 pmWalter Plinge1 post in thread
My Fair Lady
Mon, 17 July 2000, 03:14 pmIt has finished now, so my review won't make much difference to the box office. Incidentally, as I was leaving the theatre, I was almost bowled over by the cashbox-clutching director.
It was a real pleasure to see Rebecca Bird (Eliza) in full flight on the Regal stage, even though she was carrying more lead than Phar Lap. Tom Rees (Pickering) was convincing, Graeme Hestelow (Doolittle) had the makings of the role but didn't quite put them to full use. Cory Jones (Freddy) seemed genuinely terrified of Eliza and Colin Hughes (Higgins) may as well have been alone onstage - or in the theatre for that matter. The supporting cast were giving it their best but overall the standard was not quite what we have come to expect from a pro-am production. The dual pianos also seemed to be a bit of a poor substitute for a real orchestra.
I had been warned, but main gripe was the admission price of $33.50. Granted the Regal is a lovely venue, but is that really any justification for charging more than twice (or thrice!) the going rate, particularly when the overall product is somewhat inferior?
It was a real pleasure to see Rebecca Bird (Eliza) in full flight on the Regal stage, even though she was carrying more lead than Phar Lap. Tom Rees (Pickering) was convincing, Graeme Hestelow (Doolittle) had the makings of the role but didn't quite put them to full use. Cory Jones (Freddy) seemed genuinely terrified of Eliza and Colin Hughes (Higgins) may as well have been alone onstage - or in the theatre for that matter. The supporting cast were giving it their best but overall the standard was not quite what we have come to expect from a pro-am production. The dual pianos also seemed to be a bit of a poor substitute for a real orchestra.
I had been warned, but main gripe was the admission price of $33.50. Granted the Regal is a lovely venue, but is that really any justification for charging more than twice (or thrice!) the going rate, particularly when the overall product is somewhat inferior?