A lovely article in the New York Times about the production of My Fair Lady I just saw, with pictures of my friend Kate, and others.
I did think, as I watched this production, that it seemed to be closer to Pygmalion than to My Fair Lady – there was a depth to it, a passion to it, it wasn’t all played for laughs. You could feel Shaw in there, which you most definitely cannot in other versions of the show.
One result of all this is that in the end, unlike most versions of “My Fair Lady,” which lean toward satisfying romantic closure, this one leaves it uncertain how Henry and Eliza resolve their feelings for each other. Anything might happen after the curtain; she might even decide to marry Freddy. This really is closer to the ending for “Pygmalion,” though Shaw was adamant that Eliza and Henry would never end up together.
“The idea,” Mr. Murray said, looking as though he were mentally crossing his fingers, “is that instead of being a sheer emotional high, it has a dramatic entertainment value as well.”
I absolutely loved the final moment of the show. Shaw was horrified at the thought that people wanted Eliza and Henry to hook up.) – but Eliza, now a lady, does return to Professor Higgins’ house, only to find him sitting alone in his study, listening to his phonograph recording of her practicing her vowels. He is so desperately lonely for her, so “accustomed to her face”, that even a recording is better company than not.
That’s how it ends. With her standing behind him, watching him.
It could go either way. It is highly ambiguous. You don’t know what will happen when he turns around and sees her, you don’t know why she has come back … It trembles in the balance.
This production does something completely different in the last moment, something so unexpected and so imaginative it brought tears to my eyes. Very glad to see that acknowledged.
Several years ago – oh hell, it was decades ago – my parents saw a production of “My Fair Lady” with Rex Harrison. He will always be THE Professor Higgins to me.
Yes. Me too. A brilliant performance.
But Cumptsy did quite a fine job.
You know, I’ve never cared much for musicals (apropos of nothing), but My Fair Lady (along with Fiddler on the Roof) have always been exceptions.
Pardon me for asking out of school, but are you going to do that play you mentioned a couple of months ago (the one you got the script for)?
Ken –
It actually was postponed. For some un-knowable reason.
I saw Rex Harrison at the Pantages theater decaded ago with my grandmother and mom. We also saw Dick Van Dyke in The Music Man there, too. Decades ago. So will you put us out of our misery and let us know how they ended it? You can email me if you don’t want the spoiler on your blog!
Carrie –
Oh, what the hell. I’ll tell.
During all of the teaching scenes, where he is being a total hard-ass, making her say her vowel sounds into the deep of night … whenever she is a “good girl” and does what he asks, he pops a chocolate in her mouth.
She basically lives for that chocolate.
It’s like he thinks she’s a little puppy, who needs a reward.
At the end of the play, she returns. She stands in the back of the room, watching him listening to the recording of her voice. He doesn’t notice her. Then – suddenly – she speaks, in her old accent, and completes one of the sentences on the recording. He gasps, turns around. Then he tries to get himself together, and still be the uptight asshole he once was, but he can’t.
One of his lines is something like, “I missed having you around, dammit.”
He sits down in the chair by the desk, holding his bedroom slippers. The last time they had seen one another, she went into such a rage that she whipped the slippers at his head.
For a second, watching, I thought that he was going to do the same thing – throw the slippers at her.
But he just sat there. Staring down at the slippers.
She was standing off behind him, watching him.
I had no idea what would happen next.
Then – in one sudden movement – she crossed over to the desk, sat on top of it, picked up the box of chocolates … he glanced up at her … and she smiled down at him, and then popped a piece of chocolate into HIS mouth.
Lights out.
Beautiful.
Awww I’m so glad you shared that, that’s perfect! Very inspired. Thanks :-)
You’re right, red, that’s an excellent ending for that play.