SALEM COMMUNITY THEATRE 'My Fair Lady': It's simply 'luverly'

The superb cast, elegant costumes and elaborate settings made the musical an entertaining night out.
BY MARGARET NERY
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
Although he provided an eloquent lesson in elocution, Professor Henry Higgins discovered, much to his chagrin, that he, too, had a lot to learn.
And such was the premise of "My Fair Lady," the charming story of the transformation of a young, unschooled waif into a lady of distinction that was brought to life on stage Friday night at Salem Community Theatre.
And, phonetically speaking, the legendary musical was absolutely "luverly."
What it's about: Based on George Bernard Shaw's classical story "Pygmalion," and fleshed out with lyrics and music by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, the main focus of the play is the complex relationship that develops between the egotistical Higgins (superbly played by Al McKinnon), and a spirited young cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle (performed to perfection by the delightfully talented Connie Cassidy).
A confirmed bachelor and phonetics expert, the self-centered Higgins bets his friend Col. Pickering (the amusing Brian Lee) he can turn a ragamuffin flower girl into a lady within six months merely by teaching her how to speak English and pronounce her vowels properly.
Although unconvinced, Pickering covers the bet and the unschooled, unkempt, Eliza becomes a human guinea for the unorthodox experiment in personal transformation.
Her demanding, often exhausting, repetitious lessons include the tongue-twister "The Rain in Spain," which becomes a challenging theme song for the young woman.
When she finally perfects the pronunciation, Higgins is so excited that he dances with Eliza who is in turn so happy that she joyfully sings "I Could Have Danced All Night."
Meeting the upper class: As her skills develop and her appearance undergoes an amazing metamorphosis, Eliza is introduced to the snobbish upper class at the Ascot races, where she both fascinates and shocks the prissy and exquisitely gowned ensemble.
After a formal appearance at the Embassy ball, where Eliza is regarded as royalty and wins the heart of Freddy (Tim Burke), Pickering and Higgins bask in the glory, and take all the credit for the success of the evening, completely ignoring Eliza and her accomplishments.
Convinced that she is little more than a pawn in the game Higgins is playing, Eliza wonders what will become of her now the experiment is over and decides to go back where she belongs.
Although his mother (JoAnne Winterbauer) admires Eliza and wishes her to stay, the self-centered Higgins lets her go. Only when he is alone does Higgins realize he misses her and the feeling of loss is reflected in his plaintive, self-reproachable singing of "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face."
Turning point: Finally Higgins comes to the realization that "the only difference between a lady and a flower girl is the way she is treated."
Even as the lives of Higgins and Eliza were undergoing significant changes -- so too were there dramatic changes in the life of her roistering father, Alfred P. Doolittle ( Dave Wack). A born womanizer and disreputable character, he openly admits, "I can't afford to have morals." But when he suddenly comes into money, his life, too, is completely changed. He even decides to get married and challenges his gang of ragamuffins to "Get Me to the Church on Time."
This fascinating version of "My Fair Lady" is brought to life by Tim Cassidy, who assembled and directed the outstanding cast. Elegant costumes, elaborate settings and uninhibited performances by a lively, supporting cast turned the musical into a most "luverly" extravaganza.