A ‘Fair Lady’ honored

Lolita Harper

The essence of an American classic, the spirit of a legendary

actress and the vigor of a youthful cast creates an unparalleled

synergy around performances of “My Fair Lady” at UC Irvine.

More than 100 cast members, stage crew and musicians have teamed

up under the direction of Robert Cohen to craft a fitting ArtsWeek

tribute to Claire Trevor, the late Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress

for whom the university’s refurbished theater is named. The musical

opens the Claire Trevor Theatre this weekend.

Trevor’s acting career spanned more than seven decades in stage,

radio, television and film. Trevor appeared in more than 60 motion

pictures with Hollywood’s top leading men, including John Wayne,

Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Edward G. Robinson,

William Powell and William Holden.

Before passing away, the esteemed actress donated $500,000 to

renovate the former Village Theater-- a project seven years in the

making.

“My Fair Lady” was said to be one of Trevor’s favorite

productions, and Cohen and his cast have worked hard to perfect and

enhance the Alan Jay Lerner-Frederick Loewe show.

“There is a certain excitement in doing an old classic because it

is the music you love,” Cohen said. “Bringing it to life is quite a

thrill.”

“My Fair Lady,” based on the George Bernard Shaw play “Pygmalion,”

tells the story of an English professor, Henry Higgins, who wagers he

can turn a cockney flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, into a proper lady

and pass her off as a duchess. Among the songs performed are “On the

Street Where You Live,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “I Could Have

Danced All Night” and “Get Me to the Church on Time.”

Cohen said he is extremely proud of his cast and crew, who have

worked thousands of hours.

“Anyone who does a show of this magnitude has an immense

undertaking,” Cohen said.

It is a performance of grand proportions not only because of the

size of the cast or the prominence of the actress it honors but

because of the heartfelt passion poured into it by those involved.

“It’s high profile for the school, but that’s not why it has been

important,” said Ailene King, who plays Mrs. Higgins.

King said she felt a connection to the show immediately. She has

watched it develop into a steady, solid, quality piece of work. There

are no weak links in any respect, she said.

“It happens every once in awhile when you are in a show, when you

just know,” King said in an excited tone. “This is quality, this is a

classic, this is a good time. This is it.”

The sets and costumes fully realize the essence of the early

1900s, transporting the audience to a simpler time. At the same time,

the cast so perfectly captures the spirit of the classic production

that it reminds people of the complex social issues that continue to

plague society.

Windell Middlebrooks, a robust Southern gentlemen who hides his

Texas accent to play a working-class English bartender, said that

although the play is a musical comedy, it touches on serious issues

such as poverty and the class system.

“The lower class comes into my bar to escape,” Middlebrooks said.

“They hang out in my bar and drink their troubles away.”

Cohen’s rendition of “My Fair Lady” offers a new twist. Cohen said

he would not give away too many details, but argued the musical was a

love story and he would present it as such.

“We are looking through our eyes and using different kinds of

scenic inventions, but haven’t changed a word of the text or the

score,” Cohen said.

Middlebrooks and King will accept the presentation of Trevor’s

Emmy and Oscar to the school at tonight’s black tie dedication

ceremony. Middlebrooks said every aspect of this performance

electrified him.

“It is just awesome,” he said.