Published: May 08, 2008 11:38 am            

‘My Fair Lady’ closes out Jewel Box’s 50th anniversary season

EDMOND — Jewel Box Theatre is closing its 50th anniversary season with the delightful Lerner and Lowe musical “My Fair Lady.” From its Broadway opening in 1956 starring Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison to the wonderful movie with Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, this marvelous, tuneful show has delighted audiences for years and this production is no exception.

With a stellar cast, the show starts fast and never lets up. As everyone knows, the show centers around the attempt of Professor Henry Higgins to turn cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a woman along with the assistance of his friend Col. Pickering.

Lanky Don Taylor is marvelous as the crusty Henry Higgins. Taylor does a fine job of developing Higgins as we watch him drive Eliza mercilessly to perfect her English only to find that despite himself he ultimately begins to have feelings for Eliza. Taylor is splendid with such numbers as “Why Can’t the English?” and “I’m An Ordinary Man” as well as the amusing “Hymn to Him.”

Lovely Kylie Esco is a delight as Eliza, catching just the right tone and making believable changes from flower girl to woman, acquitting herself wonderfully at the Embassy Ball despite a major social gaffe at Ascot. Esco has a charming voice that serves her well whether she is dreaming “Wouldn’t it be Loverly,” frustrated in such numbers as “Just You Wait” or “Show Me” or performing the well-known “I Could Have Danced All Night.” Esco and Taylor work nicely together creating a believable relationship the more the two are together.

Adding nice touches is Clyde Martin reprising his role as Col. Pickering with just the right touches and proving the perfect counterpoint for Higgins. Unfortunately, this talented actor died following the first week of the run and as a result the stars shined a little less brightly.

Winner of several Gem Awards from the Jewel Box, Martin performed in nearly every theater in the community going back to the original Mummers Theatre and he will be greatly missed by his many friends in the theater community.

Randall Hunter has great fun with the role of Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s father and gets two of the show’s best numbers. With a “Little Bit of Luck” and “Get Me to the Church on Time,” he and the talented ensemble perform with great aplomb.

Joel Woodward is perfect as the handsome Freddy Eynsford-Hill and makes the most of “On the Street Where You Live” after falling completely for Eliza at Ascot.

Among those adding wonderful touches in the minor roles are Kurt Leftwich as Zoltan Karpathy, the charming Donna Mackie as Mrs. Higgins, Henry’s mother, and Jamie Brewster as Mrs. Pearce, the housekeeper.

With a talented cast that can sing and dance up a storm, director Sara Phoenix has woven a magical spell making her show shine like newly minted silver. A long show under any conditions, Phoenix never lets the pace lag, keeping the energy level high throughout. Her outstanding choreography also proves to be just what is called for and the cast lives up to every demand as it energetically cavorts through the large production numbers as well as the stuffy “Ascot Gavotte.” Charlotte Rose’s colorful costumes also are perfect for the production, adding a nice flavor.



BOB SMITH is a theater critic for The Edmond Sun.

        

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