My Fair Lady

The Tube gives way to the Trolley and Old Town State Park replaces Hyde Park in Cygnet Theatre's second attempt at "My Fair Lady," a landmark itself made immortal by the abiding Audrey Hepburn.

This is a big musical on a smaller stage but Cygnet and director Sean Murray (who pulls double duty as the show's lead antagonist Henry Higgins) do well in scaling back the production without losing the grandiose nature that has become a trademark of this classic.

Taken from the George Bernard Shaw play "Pygmalion," the audience finds Eliza Doolittle (Allison Spratt Pearce), a London commoner selling flowers in the streets of the West End's Convent Garden, as she meets speech scholar Higgins. She becomes the subject of a bet between Higgins and his professional peer, Colonel Pickering (Tom Stephenson). Higgins believes that he can transform Eliza into a queen consort, Pickering is not convinced.

With the permission of her father Alfred P. (Ron Choularton), Eliza embarks on a life-altering journey that leaves us wondering whether the limits placed on her because of her gender will truly allow her to live a life much different from the one she left behind.

Without taking anything away from a wonderful performance by the leading cast, the strength in this rendition undoubtedly lies in the ensemble. Led by Cygnet vet Linda Libby and accompanied by Bryan Banville, Katie Whalley Banville, Charles Evans Jr., Ralph Johnson, and Debra Wanger, this group deserves more attention than I can, unfortunately, provide. Engaging and energetic, their appearances were always accompanied by some of the most exquisite harmonies on stage this year in San Diego. True, much of the credit goes to Frederick Loewe's music and Alan Jay Lerner's book and lyrics but the art, as they say, is in the execution and Murray did well in assembling this delightful bunch of artists.

Andrew Hull's set design is also a wonderful feature of this production. With such a rich setting, history and storyline, often the scenery for "My Fair Lady" is equally as dense. A rather toned down backdrop accompanied by an abstract London skyline, complete with St. James's iconic dome, leaves the audience to focus on the rich characters in front of them instead of trying to decipher what knick-knacks Professor Higgins might have upon his bookshelves.

True fans of musical theatre need no introduction to one of the monster classics of the last century but casual fans might and Cygnet does not disappoint in this adaptation. Though long on time (the production averages just shy of three hours), the pacing and energy from this cast make the time fly by and with a couple of opportunities to join in a sing-a-long, audiences of all ages are sure to enjoy a more intimate look at a monster musical.

"My Fair Lady" runs through April 26 at the Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, in Old Town San Diego. For information or tickets! call 619-337-1525 or visit www.cygnettheatre.org.