Lavish linguistics of a lady
COEUR d'ALENE - As Eliza Doolittle descended the staircase at the Embassy Ball, she sparkled from head to toe.
With a knowing glance and demure smile, she gracefully and deliberately made her way down the steps. For a moment, Allison Standley, the actress who plays Doolittle in Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's production of "My Fair Lady," appeared as a glowing reincarnation of the stunning Audrey Hepburn, who starred in the 1964 film version.
Sunday's afternoon performance of "Lady" in the Kroc Performing Arts Center left hardly a seat unfilled. Several audience members sang along or shuffled in their seats during the beloved musical's song and dance numbers.
"Lady," which runs through July 27 and is directed by CST artistic director Jadd Davis, is a heartwarming tale that weaves together several elements of what it means to be human. It all begins with a chance encounter between Doolittle and the arrogant, condescending phonetics professor Henry Higgins (played by Greg Stone). The story is set in early 20th century London, a time when the rifts between social classes were wide and extremely apparent.
Doolittle is a poor, dirty-faced girl who sells flowers for a living. She speaks in a coarse Cockney accent, something Higgins hones in on as their paths cross in front of an opera house in the first scene of Act I. Among the higher-class citizens in suits and gowns hailing taxis this way and that is the amiable Col. Pickering (Lanz Edwin Babbitt), Higgins' colleague in language. After a clever musical number discussing the misuse and abuse of the English language, Higgins wagers that he can transform the lowly flower girl into an elegant, high-society lady. Thus begins the intertwined journey of Higgins, Doolittle and Pickering.
The CST production of "Lady" includes many song-and-dance sequences that feature intricate and entertaining choreography as well as a stage full of vocal talent. The production's book and lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner with music by Frederick Loewe. It is adapted from George Bernard Shaw's play and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture, "Pygmalion."
"For those who love more of the 'music' of musicals, this production won't disappoint," Davis told The Press. "I took special care in casting the best singers I know to handle the challenge's of Frederick Loewe's score, and the result is pretty breathtaking."
"Lady" includes some comedic moments and sarcastic comments, to which audience members loudly respond. But it also has some heavier undertones that speak to the universal human condition: the misogynistic, cruel way Higgins initially treates Doolittle, the "looking down the nose" of upper-class society at the poor and underprivileged and Doolittle's self-serving and alcoholic dad, just to name a few. It also speaks of the hurt that can arise when social experiments are conducted without proper care of the subject, and just how much a woman can get under a man's skin without even really meaning to do it.
"My Fair Lady" continues at the Kroc Center tonight at 7:30 with multiple shows through the weekend. The final show is July 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $49 for adults, $42 for senior/military, $27 for children 12 and younger.
Times and ticket info: www.cdasummertheatre.com.