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Overview

Synopsis

Hailed by critics and audiences for its heart and its wit, My Fair Lady is a beautiful musical about transformation, patronage, gender politics and class, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play, Pygmalion. Acclaimed Professor and confirmed bachelor Henry Higgins makes a wager with his linguistic colleague Colonel Pickering that in six months he can pass off “gutter snipe” Eliza Doolittle as a duchess at an embassy ball. Through arduous training, day and night, Eliza learns how to speak English “properly,” and transforms into a lady respected and adored by all classes. Along the way she bewitches young Freddy Einsford-Hill into falling in love with her, and convinces a supposed linguistics expert that she is royalty. Through her transformation process, Eliza forges a deep connection with Colonel Pickering and most especially with Professor Higgins. However, she finds herself in a difficult position, now too refined to go back to her old life and not with any means or desire to live life as a lady of leisure – especially by herself. When Higgins completely fails to acknowledge Eliza’s role in her own transformation, she leaves his home. It is only then that Higgins realizes that he cares deeply for Eliza. The musical ends with Eliza’s return to Higgins’ home, and the ending is left ambiguous, yet it is beloved for being both one of the cleverest and one of the most romantic shows of all time.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1956
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
london, 1912
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Henry Higgins

Lead

Male

Baritone

Colonel Pickering

Lead

Male

Baritone

Eliza Doolittle

Lead

Female

Soprano

Alfred P. Doolittle

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mrs. Higgins

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mrs. Pearce

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Professor Zoltan Karpathy

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Freddy Eynsford-Hill

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Harry

Featured

Male

Bass

Jamie

Featured

Male

Tenor

A Bystander

Featured

Either or Both

Spoken

Butler

Featured

Male

Spoken

Footman

Featured

Male

Silent

Footman

Featured

Male

Spoken

Selsey Man

Featured

Male

Spoken

Hoxton Man

Featured

Male

Spoken

Queen of Transylvania

Featured

Female

Spoken

Mrs. Eynsford-HIll

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Mrs. Hopkins

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Costmongers (4)

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone

Flower Girl

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Lady Boxington

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Lord Boxington

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone

George

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone

Footman 2

Ensemble

Male

Silent

Maid (2)

Ensemble

Female

Silent

Busker (3)

Ensemble

Either or Both

Silent

Servant (6)

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Steward (2)

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

  • 1. Overture and Opening Scene – Orchestra, 3 buskers
  • 2. Why Can’t the English? – Higgins
  • *3. Wouldn’t it Be Loverly? – Eliza and Costermongers
  • *4. With a Little Bit of Luck – Alfred Doolittle, Harry, and Jamie
  • 5. I’m an Ordinary Man – Higgins
  • 6. With a Little Bit of Luck (Reprise) – Alfred Doolittle and Friends (Ensemble)
  • 7. Just You Wait – Eliza
  • 8. The Servants’ Chorus – Mrs. Pearce and Servants
  • *9. The Rain in Spain – Higgins, Eliza, Pickering
  • *10. I Could Have Danced All Night – Eliza, Mrs. Pearce, Maids
  • 11. Ascot Gavotte – Spectators at the race (Ensemble)
  • 12. End of Gavotte and Blackout Music - Orchestra
  • 13. On the Street Where You Live – Freddy
  • 14. Eliza’s Entrance – Orchestra
  • *15. Introduction to Promenade – Orchestra
  • *16. Promenade – Orchestra
  • *17. Embassy Waltz – Higgins, Eliza, Karpathy, Guests
  • 18. Entr’acte
  • 19. You Did It – Pickering, Higgins, Mrs. Pearce, Servants
  • 20. Just You Wait (Reprise) – Eliza
  • 21. On the Street Where You Live (Reprise) – Freddy
  • 22. Show Me – Eliza and Freddy
  • 23. The Flower Market / Wouldn’t It Be Loverly (Reprise) – Eliza and Costermongers
  • *24. Get Me to the Church on Time – Alfred Doolittle, Harry, Jamie, and Costermongers
  • 25. A Hymn to Him – Higgins
  • 26. Without You – Eliza and Higgins
  • 27. I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Higgins
  • 28. Finale - Orchestra

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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