Circle Jan2018 low

MUSICALS
begin with, this idea sparks hope in eliza
and she decides to find the man and follow
through on his suggestion, and so begins
her journey of elocution lessons and harsh
realities as she tries to become a lady ‘fit for
a king’. it’s a wonderful story and one that’s
just as poignant today as it was when it was
first presented as Pygmalion – a play by
George Bernard shaw – in 1913,” Maxine
says.
Most people know My Fair Lady from
the musical film version, which starred
audrey hepburn and was released in 1964,
directed by George cukor. it brought to life
beloved numbers including I Could Have
Danced All Night, Wouldn’t It Be Luverly,
and Get Me To The Church on Time.
“My Fair Lady was very much
branded by the film, as well as by the West
end version, which starred Julie andrews,”
Maxine continues. “i am sure many
audience members will come along
expecting a replica performance, but i am
hoping to inject my own spin on the show. i
don’t want to copy either actress or be
compared to them. coming up with my
own identity for eliza is a pleasing part of
the challenge.”
and there is a plethora of brilliant
people helping her to do exactly that, from
director Denise Mulholland to musical
director Kris spiteri and choreographer
emma loftus. “Denise has an incredible
vision for the show and we’re in the
advanced stages of putting it all together;
it’s on its feet and we’re now finding the
details and colouring it all in. it’s a learning
curve and every rehearsal helps me to
discover something new – Denise is
wonderful like that and really allows me the
freedom to keep trying new things.
“the cast is great too. i am so
enjoying playing alongside tony as higgins
– we have wonderful chemistry – as well as
edward Mercieca as col Pickering, alan
Paris as my dad alfred P Doolittle, and
thomas camilleri as freddy eynsford-hill,
plus the delightful chorus. it’s simply
magical watching it all come together and
every rehearsal i fall more and more in love
with it.”
Maxine has a few favourite moments
that she is most looking forward to playing
Coming up with
my own identity
for Eliza is a
pleasing part of
the challenge
within the show – particularly when walks
into the ball for the first time. “it’s a
cinderella moment!” the actress smiles.
“the child in me has been dreaming about
it for years and i can’t wait. that said, i do
hope my clumsy self won’t trip right at that
second, as it would be shambolic!”
so as she goes from flower seller to
duchess in My Fair Lady, and to island girl
in Mamma Mia (which will be directed by
chris Gatt in april), Maxine is certainly
proving herself to be a versatile performer
– something that she credits to her recent
training at the royal conservatoire of
scotland, which she achieved with the
support of the Malta arts scholarship. “i
was lucky enough to be awarded a year of
study and spent 12 months working full
Amanda Seyfried in
Mamma Mia, the movie.
The sequel is set for
release later this year.
Maxine will be taking up
the role of Sophie in the
local musical
production.
Photo courtesy of
universal Pictures
time at the third-best school in the world
for musical theatre. it helped my
tremendously – from my focus to my
performance skills, and i am very excited to
be bringing that knowledge back to Malta
and to be performing here again.”
nevertheless, the jump between the
two shows will be an impressive one to
make, especially as the roles couldn’t be
more different. “to be honest, i am only
focused on My fair lady for now. then, on
february 5, once the curtain comes down
on eliza, it will be all systems go on
sophie,” she smiles. “i guess switching hats
in this way will give me a taste of the what
the professional industry is really like,
where actors have to be ready to walk into
different parts at a moment’s notice. all i
know, is that i feel incredibly lucky to be
playing just one of these parts, never mind
two, and i simply can’t wait to bring them
to the stage.”
My Fair Lady opens on February 2 at
the Mediterranean Conference Centre and
runs until 4 February. Mamma Mia opens on
April 13 at the Mediterranean Conference
Centre and runs until April 15. Tickets are
available online or directly from the MCC
booking office in the mornings, and via the
ticket hotline 7944 5030.
www.mcc.com.mt
JANUARY 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle 31