My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady [1] is an immensely popular musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. First produced in New Haven and New York 1956, London 1958.
The original text
Based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play Pygmalion [2].
For productions of the play, see Pygmalion.
South African Productions
1962: Presented by African Theatres and produced by Robert Herbert at the Empire Theatre from 2 November 1962. It played to 234 packed houses, before repeating its success in Cape Town and Durban. Cast: Diane Todd (Eliza Doolittle), David Oxley (Professor Henry Higgins), Anthony Bazell (Colonel Pickering), John Baskcomb (Alfred P. Doolittle), Minnie Love (Mrs. Higgins), Freda Wilson (Mrs. Pearce), Joan Gibson (Mrs. Eynsford-Hill), Howard Davies (Freddy Eynsford-Hill).
1976: Presented by the Arts Theatre Club at the Guild Theatre, directed by Hazel Tennant, musical direction by Jean Fowler. With Roger Dwyer (Henry Higgins) and Robin Emslie (Eliza Doolittle), Diane Hunter, Colin Smithies, Nola Durno, Ian Harper, John Stonier, Dick Bennetts, Paul Kane, Mike Ruddick, Jack Chapman, Keith Durno, Phillip Cloete, John Walter, Ross Muller, Austen Jones, Alan Taylor, Mary Hayton, Flo Innes, Freda Ruddick, Christine Pentz, Margaret Rees, Vivienne Stevens, Brenda Radloff, Ethne White, Sylvia Bennetts, Ray Nixon, Caroline Fawkes, Ian Jamie, Margaret Fawkes.
1977: PACT production directed by Francois Swart at the Civic Theatre, Johannesburg, from 17 November 1977. Cast: Evette Davis (Eliza Doolittle), Michael Atkinson (Professor Henry Higgins), Hugh Rouse (Colonel Pickering), Gordon Mulholland (Alfred P. Doolittle), Ann Courtneidge (Mrs. Higgins), Olive King (Mrs. Pearce), Helen Jessop (Mrs. Eynsford-Hill), Richard le Brun Powell (Freddy Eynsford-Hill).
1978: Presented by CAPAB Music at the Nico Malan Opera House, directed by Michael Atkinson opening 21 October. Musical direction by Gerry Bosman, lighting by John T. Baker. Aviva Pelham took the part of Eliza Doolittle, Michael Atkinson played Henry Higgins and some of the other cast members were Roger Dwyer, Anton Stoltz, Fitz Morley, Paddy Canavan and Ann Courtneidge.
1981: Presented by CAPAB Opera at the Nico Malan Opera House, directed by David Matheson, from 24 October 1981.
1982: The Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society.
1987: Presented by NAPAC at The Natal Playhouse, The Opera, directed and choreographed by Geoffrey Sutherland, with Julie Wilson (Eliza), Michael Atkinson (Henry Higgins), Stuart Parker (Col. Pickering), Edmond Rhame (Freddy), Gordon Mulholland (Alfred P. Doolittle) and others. Graham Scott was the musical director and conductor. Sets by Andrew Botha and costumes by Dicky Longhurst.
198?: PACT Opera production directed by Francois Swart at the State Theatre, Pretoria, starring Graham Hopkins, Ian Steadman, Kate Normington, Jocelyn Broderick with Terry Lester and Graham Armitage, Maragaret Heale, Shelagh Holliday, Lynda Marshall and Barry Coleman. Musical director and conductor Graham Scott, musical numbers staged and choreographed by Geoffrey Sutherland. Décor by Andrew Botha, costumes by Dicky Longhurst, lighting by Stan Knight. Sets, costumes and choreography from the NAPAC production.
1990: Presented by CAPAB Opera from 2 to 31 March, directed by Michael Atkinson, starring Aviva Pelham. Costumes by Dicky Longhurst, original set designs by Andrew Botha for NAPAC.
2006: Presented by The Playhouse Company at The Natal Playhouse directed by Steven Stead with Ralph Lawson, Carol Trench and designs by Greg King.
2008: Staged by the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society, directed by Ralph Lawson, in the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town.
2009: The Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society, directed by Paul Griffiths.
2009: Presented by The Playhouse Company at the Playhouse, directed by Ralph Lawson, from 20 November 2009.
Sources
NAPAC theatre programme, 1987.
My Fair Lady theatre programme (CAPAB, 1990).
Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.
NELM catalogue.
Arts Theatre Club archive held by George Mountjoy.
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