We know you've been waiting for it - this week, we take a critical (but loving) look at Lerner & Loewe's best-known musical, the 1956 classic My Fair Lady! And the faultless Julie Andrews!
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We talk about:
- Myths & Legends: The show’s origin in the mythology of Ovid and the social agenda of English playwright George Bernard Shaw – and, perhaps, the Biblical story of Job.
- The "Grass Is Greener" Effect: The musical’s exploration of the philosophical question, “If you got everything you wanted, would that really make you happy?”
- Misogyny: The misogyny of the idea (both theatrical and religious) of a masculine God who controls men & women. How does My Fair Lady both perpetuate and push back on these images?
- Love Stories: The true love story of My Fair Lady. Is it Eliza and Higgins? Eliza and Freddy? Higgins and Pickering? Or some combination?
- The Challenge of the Ending: Is My Fair Lady a redemption story or an indictment of Henry Higgins and everything he represents?
- Complacency: The danger of “becoming accustomed” – to faces, situations, and damaging cultural norms.
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You’ll hear:
- Julie Andrews (Patron Saint of this podcast) singing “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “I Could Have Danced All Night” from the 1959 West End cast recording.
- Rex Harrison singing “A Hymn to Him” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” from the 1959 West End recording.
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