Have
you ever had a night that you wished could last forever? I have. I truly could
have danced all night long after my senior prom. I moved across my room in my
long flowing dress singing “I
could have danced all night” from the Broadway show, My Fair Lady. In that moment, I felt like Eliza Doolittle, the
young London girl, chosen by Professor Henry Higgins for a linguistics
experiment in My Fair Lady. Higgins
bets a friend he can transform Eliza into an eloquent lady in time for the
Embassy Ball. While frustrated at first, Higgins eventually finds Eliza to be
delightful company. But, does he accomplish the task at hand?
Even if you have never heard of this
musical, I bet you know the actress who played the Broadway Eliza Doolittle.
She’s known as Mary Poppins, Maria von Trapp, The Queen of Genovia, and many
other aliases. Julie Andrews
played Eliza Doolittle when My Fair Lady
first appeared on the Broadway stage on March 15, 1956. This show appeared almost ten years before The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins, so Julie Andrews was not
yet popular. Luckily for her, she had a well-known costar that enticed viewers.
His name was Rex Harrison. Not only did he play Professor Higgins in the
Broadway play, he also played the same role in the movie version almost ten
years later.
The movie
version of My Fair Lady aired around
the same time as Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, but My Fair Lady came first. If the casting
crew had chosen Julie Andrews, we wouldn't know her as Mary Poppins or Maria
von Trapp. Fortunately for us, Julie Andrews was passed
over for the role. The actress who was cast was the beloved Audrey Hepburn. She played
Eliza Doolittle with as much poise and grace as her predecessor. Although she
lacked the vocal skills of Julie Andrews, she redeemed herself with her acting
and gorgeous physique. Even though she vocally prepared for the role, Audrey
Hepburn did not sing a majority of the show. Marni Nixon, a famous
Broadway name, sang most of Hepburn’s songs. Her first screen appearance was as
Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music.
My Fair Lady was a hit and collected many awards. Unfortunately, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music quickly followed and surpassed My Fair Lady in the box office and in
the audiences’ hearts. Even so, My Fair
Lady will always be remembered for the memorable songs like “Wouldn’t It Be
Loverly”, “The Rain in Spain”, and “I Could Have Danced All Night.” Thanks for
reading, and as always, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing!”
Another great blog!
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