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My Fair Lady
Original Broadway Cast
Starring Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway
Music by Frederick Loewe
Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
15 Tracks
Read an off-site Synopsis of the show at TheatreHistory.com.
I like this show, it's really funny without ever quite getting corny. A little silly, but not truly corny. It's got a serious undertone.
Julie Andrews is awesome as Eliza Doolittle. She has such a wonderful voice. This is the show that was her first big break, and she is excellent on this CD. She's so... Eliza. Nice, but very independent when she gets mad at Higgins. I love "Without You." And best of all, no annoying shrill notes at all!
Well, yes, I must admit that Rex Harrison can't sing. But he really doesn't need to. This role was written specifically for him and his non-singing. At least he doesn't try to really sing; he just sort of recites musically, and it's quite pleasant. Plus, you can concentrate on the lyrics, which are positively hilarious. I love "Why Can't the English" and "A Hymn to Him." They're just so funny, and they just nail the Higgins character.
In the movie of "Pygmalion" with Leslie Howard, which BTW is excellent, Henry Higgins is very rude, chauvinistic, self-centered, and otherwise dislikeable. It works well in the movie (and presumably in Shaw's play) and the audience mostly feels just pity for him. Rex Harrison manages to convey all of those dislikeable traits and still be charming. I don't get it, but it does come across like that. The audience is more inclined to let him off lightly for his ridiculous worldview, because they like him a bit despite his faults.
The character of Freddy, who annoys me greatly, somehow wound up getting to sing the song everyone remembers. What's with that? Anyway, Michael King sings a very lovely rendition of "On the Street Where You Live.
A side warning to all: do not, I repeat DO NOT buy the movie soundtrack. First of all that is not Audrey Hepburn singing, it is Marni Nixon. Despite the huge picture of Audrey Hepburn on the album cover, she is not on the album. And although Marni Nixon does fine dubbing Hepburn for the movie, you have not heard this role sung until you have heard Julie Andrews sing it. Don't bother with the movie soundtrack. The producers went for the big name instead of the great singer - because at the time Julie Andrews wasn't a big name yet - and look where it landed them. I bet they regretted it! LOL.
If you want a My Fair Lady CD buy this one. The Original London Cast has the same cast, and is in stereo, but the performances are not as fresh and exciting as the Broadway CD. Don't worry about the sound, it's not a big deal - I have the OBC and the sound is awesome. Definitely get the OBC.
