Wouldn't it be loverly?
- Details
- Published on Sunday, March 22, 2015
By Courtney Newton
Publicity
Now preparing for its 33rd annual production, My Fair Lady, Strathclair Drama Club has provided audiences with the opportunity to see Broadway musicals without having to travel very far. For the past two and a half months, members of Strathclair Drama Club cast have been meeting once or twice a week to memorize lines and music, learn choreography and staging, and try on costumes.
There is just over a month of rehearsals ahead for the 45-member cast before opening night on April 20. This is not the first time My Fair Lady has come to the stage of Bend Theatre. The drama club presented this classic musical in 1992, their 10th production.
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s stage play, Pygmalion, My Fair Lady has been a favourite among audiences of both stage and screen. The musical centers on a bet made by language Professor Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering. They wager that Higgins would not be able to teach flower seller Eliza Doolittle to become a lady before the upcoming Embassy Ball by improving her speech, posture and dress.
This year’s cast includes many talented people from western Manitoba. The role of Eliza Doolittle, the poor flower seller, is brought to life by Brandon’s Eva Stevenson. Minnedosa’s James Comrie portrays Prof. Henry Higgins and Rivers’ Stan Runions plays Col. Pickering. Aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hill is played by Brandon’s Dylan Woodcock; Strathclair’s Willie Voth plays the part of Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle. Prof. Higgins’s maid Mrs. Pearce is brought to life by Minnedosa’s Mary Dalton. Shoal Lake’s Barbara Hamilton portrays Freddy’s mother, Mrs. Eynsford-Hill and Rivers’ Sheila Runions takes on the role of Henry’s mother, Mrs. Higgins.
Supporting characters and chorus members this year include many long-time drama club members and some new members. They include: Jody Allan, Beccy Ardiel-Voth, Bailey and Wayne Baker, Isobel Basso, Erin Brown, Janice Dalton, Jacinta Doupe, Murray Hagyard, Russ Hamilton, Daniel Kang, Greg Kirk, Karen and Emma-Jean Koscielny, Leonard Kostesky, Michelle Kramer, Jacquie Kulchyski, Eric Lamb, Brittany and Dana MacDonald, Gordon McDonald, Chris and Rowena Martin, Eric and Marley Menzies, Jessica McInnes, Kennedy Moffat, Courtney Newton, Beryl Parrott, Rebecca Porteous, Terry Radcliffe, Norm Sims, Joanna Tolton, Dan Voth, Heather Waddell, Lacey Winstone and Carlea Wootton.
The cast and crew behind My Fair Lady is excited to share their hard work with the world. Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 28; watch this publication for our ad containing more information!
