Actors’ NET of Bucks County celebrates its 10th season with a revival of the Lerner and Lowe classic, starring Carol Thompson and George Hartpence.
By: Stuart Duncan
When Hollywood made a movie of the Lerner and Loewe hit musical My Fair Lady, the producers signed Rex Harrison to play the role of Henry Higgins, the part he had created on Broadway. But they refused to sign Julie Andrews to play Eliza Doolittle. Instead, they insisted that Audrey Hepburn was a far bigger movie name and therefore would sell more tickets. No matter that she probably didn’t sing well enough; one always could get someone to sing for the soundtrack.
What they hadn’t considered was that Disney would find Ms. Andrews was just right to play the lead role in Mary Poppins. Nor that both she and Harrison would get themselves nominated for Oscars. Ms. Hepburn was declared ineligible for Oscar consideration on the basis that she hadn’t sung the score no matter that a few years earlier Deborah Kerr has been nominated for The King and I when she didn’t sing either.
Fast forward to Oscar night and both Harrison and Ms. Andrews winning their respective statuettes. Moreover, Ms. Hepburn actually presented the award to Harrison. He smoothed over the tricky situation by thanking both "his Elizas" for their help in winning the award for him.
There is no such confusion at Actors’ NET of Bucks County, where My Fair Lady is being revived as part of that company’s 10th year celebration of audience favorites. Carol Thompson is repeating her role as Eliza and George Hartpence is back as Henry Higgins. The pair is happily married in real life and beautifully matched on stage. In fact, this production is one of the most human revivals of the G.B. Shaw masterpiece you will see. Gone are the vestiges of Pygmalion treacle, replaced by genuine concerns and emotions. Just watch the pivotal scene, right after the successful jaunt to the Embassy Ball, when Colonel Pickering (Doug Kline) and Higgins are congratulating themselves on their prowess. Sneak a look at Ms. Thompson, trying desperately to conquer her immense disappointment, and see acting at its most beautiful subtlety.
Director Cheryl Doyle has cast superbly. Doug Kline plays Colonel Pickering with exactly the right mixture of old friend and military bearing, finding the humor of both. Tom Orr is a fine Freddy Eynsford-Hill, and as such he gets to sing "On the Street Where You Live" not once, but twice. Joe Doyle repeats his role of Alfred P. Doolittle, nicely backed up by a Cockney quartet (Mickey Levitan, Dennis McGuire, Michael Niederer and Chester Klabbatz). Jo Page has a delicious time as Higgins’ mother sensible, patient and, above all, elegant. A large contingent of ensemble performers appear as everything from Cockney-land denizens to Ascot dandies.
George Hartpence’s set is unfolded, wrapped up and slid across the tiny spaces a wonder of intricacy and ingenuity, nicely lit by Matt South and Matthew Whiteside. Pat Masterson leads an orchestra of six from the keyboard. There have been a number of versions of My Fair Lady in the area recently, from McCarter Theatre’s two-piano treatment to full-throated offerings. This one pays more attention to the story itself and its innate fun. No wonder the audience demanded its return.
My Fair Lady continues at Actors’ NET of Bucks County, the Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Ave., Morrisville, Pa., through April 15. Performances: Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 6 p.m., April 15, 2 p.m. For information, call (215) 295-3694. On the Web: www.actorsnetbucks.org

