A highlight of the local region’s theatre scene will be the upcoming production of one of the best musicals to hit the stage. Lerner and Loewe’s ‘My Fair Lady’ was first performed on Broadway in 1956 and the West End in 1958 and starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. It held the record for the longest run of any show up until that time and the film version was also a big hit.
Local talent Julie O’Connor will fill the role of Eliza and Rob Provan is perfect as Professor Higgins. Director Sheila Traynor has always wanted to do this show and she has put together a team of experienced people such as Eris Gleeson, Margaret Fathers, Peter Roberts, Joy and Lynn Rule, Kerry Provan, Peter O’Connor, Tracy Clarke, John Roxburgh and Keith Eatock to help bring it all together. The role of Eliza was made for Julie, who is one of the regions favourite singers and she relishes the clashes with Professor Higgins and will delight the audience with her amazing voice in such songs as ‘Wouldn’t it be Lovey’, ‘I could have danced all night’ and ‘Just you wait’.
It has been a long time since Julie has trod the boards with the Young Theatre Company but she hasn’t been idle. She has stretched herself over the last few years singing with a number of regional orchestras in Geelong, Melbourne and Ballarat in the south to Townsville in Far North Queensland performing mainly classical styles and performing in such things as Mozart’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutti’. Rob Provan is an experienced actor/director who dives headfirst into any role he takes on. Rob has directed and produced many productions such as ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Mid summers night dream’. The interaction between himself and Eris Gleeson as Colonel Pickering and Julie as Eliza will keep everyone enthralled.
The production runs from Friday 30th August at Catherine McCauley Hall in Young over 2 weekends and tickets are on sale at M&M’s Music store in Young. There is a matinee on Sunday 1st of September at 1.30pm for those who prefer. All other performances start at 7.30pm.
