FRESH off of a hit West End run, a revival of the classic musical My Fair Lady is touring the UK.
I took a trip down the M4 to the Bristol Hippodrome to see the new production, which has been described as a 'Rolls Royce of a revival' and 'visually stunning' and it certainly didn't disappoint.
It tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney working-class flower seller thrust into the upper classes by a pompous phonetics professor who took a wager that he could pass her off as one of their own.
Charlotte Kennedy's Eliza Doolittle being taught how to speak my Michael D Xavier's Professor Henry Higgins (Image: My Fair Lady)
But this new production of the quintessentially British musical story is almost breathtakingly big. There's a large ensemble, plenty of costumes, and incredibly elaborate stage scenery and set pieces.
The standout of which is the household of Professor Higgins, where most of the action chiefly takes place. This has been brought to life by showing an extremely detailed and visually impressive dolls-house style view of the entire property that almost fills the entire stage - a huge setting for any musical.
But it gets even better as this huge piece of set revolves to show other rooms in the house, adding not only to the narrative but the overall spectacle of the whole thing. This is even more impressive when you consider this is a touring production so they have to tear and down and built it back up every other week or so.
There's also a big cast to go with the show's big ideas of grandeur, with soap legends Adam Woodyatt and John Middleton, and Soprano Lesley Garrett all shining as the story's tertiary characters.
The huge set that makes up Professor Higgins home and fully revolves with Lesley Garrett as Mrs Pierce, Michael D Xavier as Henry Higgins and John Middleton as Colonel Pickering (Image: My Fair Lady)
But the whole thing hinges solely on the performances of the two leads Michael D Xavier as Professor Henry Higgins and Charlotte Kennedy filling shoes once worn by Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle.
The two are simply superb as the unlikely couple thrust together with excellent chemistry. Xavier nails the inherent comedy of his character and Kennedy is a tour-de-force in showing Doolittle's transformation and making her relatably human.
The whole show is a really interesting, charming, thing, it's set entirely in the past and yet somehow manages to feel distinctly modern, perhaps because its story of female empowerment rings truer now than it ever has done.
Adam Woodyatt as Alfred P Doolittle during an elaborate musical number in My Fair Lady (Image: My Fair Lady)
The ending reveals the date of our two main characters, and although quiet and understated, feels as big as any of the lavish sets or musical numbers.
It's hard not to be blown away by the scale of it all and it's a real shame that Swindon misses out on productions like this because of the size of its theatre. It's well worth the journey.
My Fair Lady is on at the Bristol Hippodrome until February 25, for tickets visit: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/my-fair-lady/bristol-hippodrome/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here