By Dan Shaw As the nine-piece Sharon Playhouse orchestra delivers a rousing rendition of the lush, melodic Overture to Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady, the heart overflows with expectations and the mind with anxiety: One wonders whether Rufus Collins as Professor Henry Higgins and Lee Harrington as the cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle can make these familiar tunes their own and banish the ghosts of Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews (on Broadway in 1956) and Audrey Hepburn (in the 1964 movie) The good news is that Collins and Harrington can really sing and act. In fact, Collins looks like he is Rex reincarnated, and he self-assuredly plays the self-assured, arrogant linguistic expert who takes on the challenge of transforming a guttersnipe with an atrocious accent into a proper lady with perfect diction. When he nails “Why Can’t the English?" in the opening scene, you know he will keep the production on course.
Eliza’s first song is “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?" and the number would be perfect if not for the fact that she is accompanied by the ensemble whose dance number could be more, well, loverly. When Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle played by Peter Cormican arrives on stage for his first showstopper, “With A Little Bit of Luck" (the other is “I’m Getting Married in the Morning" in Act II), his spirited delivery gives you confidence that the show — more or less a three-legged stool — is on solid ground. (For some reason, the character of Colonel Pickering, played by Michael Douglass, who’s a constant presence on stage seems inconsequential in this production.) The crucial transformation scene in Act I that takes place in Higgins’ study is appropriately fraught with tension as the merciless professor pushes Eliza to the edge — where she finally utters a few phrases properly. They are joined by Pickering to perform “The Rain in Spain," which is a joyous moment for all of us. And then they head off to Ascot. Director Richard Stafford expertly stages the satirical scene, poking fun at the upper class’s reserve as they watch the horse races. If only his choreography were more polished. You get the feeling that several members of the ensemble are not trained dancers and that he was flummoxed by their skill set; I wished he had taken a less-is-more approach. With three strong leads (who have Equity cards unlike the rest of the cast), the Sharon Playhouse production of My Fair Lady is testament to its staying power and proof that it is one of the most amusing, literate and deservedly beloved shows from the heyday of the Broadway musical. And guaranteed: you will be humming, if not singing, as you drive home. My Fair Lady (through July 5)The Sharon Playhouse 49 Amenia Road, Sharon, CT (860) 364-7469
