Lyric Light Opera, based on Camano Island, presents what has been called “the perfect musical” when “My Fair Lady” opens Saturday at stunning McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon.
The hall will become even more stunning when the sets are revealed, the gorgeous, detailed costumes are modeled and the live orchestra kicks up the music.
“For some, it will be enough to see glamorous costumes with enormous feather-laden hats in the famous Ascot scene,” said LLO’s general director Brenda Mueller, who rented the costume package from Utah Festival Opera.
“For others, it’s the chance to hear a 20-piece orchestra playing the best of Lerner and Lowe. And for most — the brilliant acting in combination with the rest — will make this production a welcome respite from the economic and political stresses of the times.”
This all-family show stars Broadway’s Greg Stone as Henry Higgins. Stone is no stranger to lead roles in Lyric productions, having been Harold Hill in “Music Man” and King Arthur in “Camelot.”
There’s no fear this veteran doesn’t have the chops for this role with both his Lyric and Broadway experience, in such Broadway shows as “Les Miserables,” “Oklahoma!,” “Urban Cowboy” and the “Pirate Queen.”
Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” presents an overconfident Professor Higgins and his experimental attempts to transform a Cockney flower girl, Eliza, into a proper-speaking lady.
This experiment spawns from a bet between British linguists Higgins and Col. Hugh Pickering, who wages to test Higgins’ skills by challenging him to change Doolittle into a Victorian lady.
“The story of My Fair Lady is about the war between the classes,” Mueller said. “Its themes touch on the value of respect for all human beings regardless of their race, sex or social status. At the very essence of ‘My Fair Lady’ is the same struggle our own country faces right now in 2012.”
Marza Warsinske stars as Eliza Doolittle. Her favorite past roles have been Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Lula” in Dutchman.
She studied musical theater at Weber State University and as a student, was a five-time Irene Ryan scholarship nominee and two-time Irene Ryan finalist.
Warsinske and Higgins will be doing lots of singing because the musical is packed with hits such as “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” “With a Little Bit of Luck,” “The Rain in Spain,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Get Me to the Church on Time.”
And if all this wasn’t enough reason to attend, Mueller added: “It’s just a really fun show full of sparkling personalities, lots of humor and wit.”
“My Fair Lady” opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with shows at various times through Oct. 21 at McIntyre Hall, 2501 E College Way, Mount Vernon.
Tickets start at $19. Call 360-416-7727 or go to www.McIntyrehall.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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