REVIEW: Fair Lady, Flawed by Faulty Sound

The premise of “My Fair Lady” (at Wharton Center until March 1) is still provocative.  If you change the way she speaks (walks and eats), can you transform a poor flower girl to an upper-class society lady?

Although the play takes place in 1912, the idea still rings true today.  The crux of the show is the constant fun being played with language. The wonderful song “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” is a veritable word puzzle we try to solve: What is Eliza actually singing, in her strong cockney accent?

I especially enjoy the line “Oh, so lovely sittin’, abso-bloomin-lutely still, I would never budge till spring, crept over me windowsill.”

Remembering a Snowbound Lady

As I look out on the beautiful winter wonderland engulfing the Lansing area and think about My Fair Lady’s opening at Wharton Center tonight, I am reminded of another time MFL played Lansing.

Back in 1978 (way back then?) My Fair Lady had a two-night stay at the MSU University Auditorium (that was four years before Wharton opened). After the last scheduled show, a huge snowstorm landed in Mid-Michigan and the My Fair Lady company was unable to leave Lansing to go to their next stop.

Zukerman in KC

I was recently in Kansas City (that’s in Missouri, Mr. Trump) and I attended a lovely concert by the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra conducted by the Music Director, Michael Stern – son of Isaac Stern.

Soloing with the orchestra was the great virtuoso violinist Pinchas Zukerman.  One of the high points of the concert was being in their new (2011) concert hall, The Kauffman Center.  It is a spectacular facility, designed by architect superstar Moshe Safdie.

Williamsnton Goes For Something Dark

When you enter the Williamston Theatre to see “900 Miles to International Falls” a world premier play written by Annie Martin, you won’t know what to expect.  The stage is totally empty except for a huge screen, made of squares and covering the entire back wall.

Suddenly, a cacophonous montage video (created by Alison Dobbins along with the playwright, Annie Martin) fills up the screen splattered with overlapping You Tubes and cable news reports in various languages, reporting the news of the day – aliens arriving on earth, wars are everywhere, we need to be watchful.

Welcome to Detroit, 2054.

"Roadsigns" at Purple Rose

Not only is Lansing a Mecca for good local theater, there are plenty of additional high-quality theater companies within an easy hour drive.

One of the best companies in Michigan is located in Chelsea, The Purple Rose Theatre Company, and it has strong roots in Lansing. The long-standing artistic director is Guy Sanville who did lots of work as an actor and director in Lansing and the Williamston Theatre was founded and is being run by a full group of Purple Rose alumni.

Local Stars Win Big

Mid-Michigan has always been a great breeding ground for prize winning musicians and artists. I don’t really know why this is, but I have always found that it is unusual how many successful public figures (sports, business people, also) are from the local area.

Here’s the current news on three folks who graduated from Lansing-area high schools and have gone on to bigger and better things.