Viva Lewes Issue #151 April 2019

ON THIS MONTH: MUSICAL
My Fair Lady
Standing the test of time
Unperturbed by my intrusion, the Lewes
Operatic Musical Theatre Society leap into a
My Fair Lady rehearsal. The actors’ ability to
instantly get into character is impressive. We
are in their early rehearsal space in Market
Tower – the group will later move to St Mary’s
Centre for some rehearsals in a bigger venue,
and will then create a pop-up theatre in the
Town Hall for the performances. “We have
tiered seating, proper curtains and everything,
it’s quite amazing.”
Director David Foster is immersed in the
local am-dram world: having directed three
of New Sussex Opera’s recent productions,
he is also set to direct Romeo and Juliet for the
Eastbourne Dramatic Society in the summer.
As we discuss the history and different versions
of My Fair Lady, David’s enthusiasm for the
show is palpable, and he credits the “very
catchy tunes that have remained with us” as
one of the reasons it is still widely performed.
There is a cheerful atmosphere as performers
file in on the evening, surrounded by props
and ephemera from LOMTS’ history, and a
cd player and piano for accompaniment. The
scenes I see rehearsed are sharply written
and good fun, with one involving Georgina
Thorburn’s Eliza asking the assorted wellto-do,
“how do you do?”. The cast enjoy
the grandiose, clipped RP of the scene, and
Thorburn in particular gets a hoot out of
the owl-like extended “dooo”. Thorburn is
from familial Eliza stock: her grandmother
was apparently the first ever Eliza to have
performed in New Zealand.
LOMTS are hopeful that the popularity of the
work will ensure a strong audience turnout,
meaning that the live ten-piece orchestra might
have to be hidden from view, to allow for extra
seating. David has performed with the society
before, so he was not surprised by the range
of talent he witnessed throughout the audition
process. “For example, we had twelve potential
Elizas, and a lot of them could have easily done
the role... but we had to narrow it down to just
one.”
I am shown an ingenious set design model,
with a moving screen to allow for quick
transitions in a fast-paced performance. “In
the original version it was on a revolving stage:
we’ve had to come up with a scenery flat that
rotates so we can change scenes quite quickly.
What I was trying to avoid was the tabs
[curtains] closing, and then having to wait for
another scene”.
LOMTS are hoping that the “good family
show” will appeal to all ages, particularly with
a Saturday matinee that might suit younger
and older audience members. “They’re going
to get the familiar story and all of the popular
tunes, and there’s lively dances, brilliant acting.
And it’s funny. It’s got its pathos as well as its
humour: it’s a good all-round musical, which is
why it’s stood the test of time.”
Joe Fuller
Lewes Town Hall, 2nd to 6th April,
losmusicaltheatre.org.uk, 01273 480127
Photos by Josh Gray
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