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NODA North West Magazine

MY FAIR LADY (1994)

Macclesfield Majestic Theatre

Producer: Cecil Walker
Musical Director: Sheila Kent
Choreographer: Kevin Clarke

This was an entertaining show where everything ran smoothly. The full company rewarded the production team’s planning with obvious enthusiasm and enjoyment in the big production numbers and the nicely directed teas scene at Ascot.

The chorus singing was clear and musical, particularly the ensemble of maids in the Act I library scenes. Paul Yandell showed vocal promise in his first part as Freddy.

The society was fortunate to be able to draw on so many experienced players for its casting with Paul Short as Zoltan Kaparthy, Jenny Dixon as Mrs. Higgins and Harry Newton as Colonel Pickering, the right foil for the company’s Professor Higgins. Deirdre Rogers made the most of Mrs Pierce and gave a subtle performance by reacting to everything without over-acting. As Alfred P. Doolittle, Mike Raymond lowered the pitch of his voice and gave a strong performance. It is the best thing I have seen him do.

After very good auditions, the casting committee and producer threw caution to the winds and gave Henry Higgins to someone under 30 and Eliza to a 16 year old, AND it worked.

Richard Cornish was an assured Professor Higgins. He walked and carried himself well and the delivery of his numbers was very good.

So to the Eliza Doolittle of this production, Heidi Dobbs. Despite not initially being quite the usual waif-like figure of Eliza, this young lady gave a marvellously poised and mature performance. Her singing was pleasant and she coped like a professional with the prop blip in Show Me. She beautifully paced out her development from ugly duckling to swan.

I cannot say how much pleasure it gives me to see talent in a young person. May Heidi continue to use and develop it and “with a little bit of luck” become a name to remember.