My Fair Lady, preformed by the Stratford theatrical group, is an offshoot, of the 1914 comedy-play, Pygmalion, written by George Bernard Shaw. This play and musical is a touching, witty and romantic adventure that revolves around the lives of the brash, hot-headed, foul mouthed Eliza Doolittle and the snobbish, upper class linguistics expert, Henry Higgins. Although the endings of My Fair Lady and Pygmalion are radically different, the classic love story doesn't deter from the original story at all.

To commence, the acting was utterly magnificent. Canadian actress and singer Cynthia Dale, decked out in grime and dirt, was truly a sight to behold. Her portrayal of the squeaky voiced, street talking Eliza Doolittle was nothing short of brilliant. Her transformation from a pauper flower girl to a polite, well-mannered aristocrat was clearly evident as she sung and danced her way into the stoic heart of Henry Higgins. The moment she stepped onto the stage, everyone sat captivated as she tried valiantly to impress those around her, never giving up even when the situation seemed impossible. To add, Henry Higgins, played by Raymond O'Neill understudy to the supposed to star, Colm Feore, was art in motion as he insulted and bitterly bickered about everything and with anyone around him. Along with his faithful sidekick Colonel Pickering (played by Barry MacGregor) Raymond O'Neill carried the play to its stellar perfection with his catchy dancing, singing and unique acting talent. Never missing one beat with his vindictive insults or witty comebacks, the audience was literally enchanted as he continued to push Eliza to the ends of her abilities. With his spectacular personality, powerful voice and natural aptitude, it's a mystery as to why he wasn't originally cast as the leading role.

Even with the very few props and special effects, the setting, as plain as it was, was terribly fitting for this musical. We began with the characters situated in a busy market place, followed by a trip into Henry Higgins' fabulously posh house. The stage managers acted hastily, setting up each scene to perfection as the play fluidly continued. Lighting and sound were also tremendously well done. With all the tuneful numbers that were written into the musical, the sound was also thumping and blasting with gorgeous music, to which the actors sang wonderfully. The straightforward lighting brought out the raw beauty of simplicity in this play as it shone luminously during the cheerful singing and dancing, all the while, timidly sparking when a character was brooding or in deep contemplation.

Though, the one thing that definitely stood out in one's mind was the costumes. Haggard and decrepit one moment, stunning and dazzling the next, designer Debra Hanson is without a doubt a creative genius. Glamorous satins and silks adorned the bodies of wealthy, genteel women as the men strutted around in high collar, long tailed black tuxedos. There was never a dull moment in My Fair Lady, and the superior special extras definitely added to its already untouchable performance.

Without a doubt, My Fair Lady was truly a fabulous play. The brilliant acting on its own hypnotized the audience, leaving them in hysterics. The dazzling and stupendous dance numbers, singing and costumes only added to the natural brilliance of this play, making it one to definitely not miss. In deed, My Fair Lady took the bad and the ugly and transformed it into the good.

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