MFL Review

A long and detailed review of My Fair Lady at Limelight Magazine. Good words for Alex!

"Heading the outstanding cast is British actor Alex Jennings, reprising a role that earned him an Olivier Award in 2003. His Higgins has deepened over the years from arrogant tyrant to slightly bewildered, prissy academic. Nowadays we would likely consider this misanthrope ‘on the spectrum’. One of Shaw’s keys is when Mrs Higgins refers to her son and Pickering as a “pretty pair of babies, playing with your live doll” and Jennings captures compellingly the curiously infantilised aspect of the man. As a theatrical technician, he is second to none, every line considered and connected to build and explore a complex human being. His lead-in to I’m an Ordinary Man reveals no railing misogynist but a fellow who has likely been burned somewhere along the line. His panegyric to the poetry of language really does inspire. The points at which we see his growing feelings for Eliza are beautifully plotted, making Jennings' Higgins seductively sympathetic at times. The songs are delivered with confidence and finesse, just on the voice enough to prove he has the notes, while relishing the text in a bravura display of Lerner-esque acerbic patter. When it comes, I’ve Grown Accustomed to her Face takes us to a place of considerable pathos and loneliness – just as it should."

Full review at Limelight Magazine.

Alex on Women

Alex talks to the Sydney Morning Herald on all he knows about women...

"There is so much men can learn from women: empathy, sympathy, emotional openness and a lack of bullshit. Women are intuitive and are kinder. Plus, they are less openly competitive - there's not that alpha-male competitiveness going on. In my view, women are better than men."

He talks about his wife, his mother and grandmother, Maggie Smith, Anna O'Byrne, Julie Andrews, Helen Mirren and Theresa May.


Sydney Morning Herald

Thanks to Jen!

More Lady Publicity

Alex attended the party after the official opening night along with other cast members.

Sydney Opening Night

"My Fair Lady" has now opened in Sydney.

There is another picture gallery at Broadway World.

The Sydney Morning Herald gives the production four stars and has this to say about Alex:


"Jennings demonstrates complete mastery as Professor Higgins. His diction and clarity is outstanding, his timing impeccable. It seems more Harrison's Higgins than his own, at times, but his crisp energy and charisma lifts the portrayal far above the level of impersonation."

Full review at: Sydney Morning Herald.

And then there was this one at the afterparty:

Alex Jennings (Henry Higgins) #MyFairLady #GalaPremiere #AfterParty #kilt

Een foto die is geplaatst door My Fair Lady Musical (@myfairladyaus) op 6 Sep 2016 om 7:34 PDT

Thanks to Kate!

Leopold

There is a review of Victoria in The Telegraph.

And some background information on the character at the Radio Times.


The third episode was shown on ITV last Sunday. The series continues next week.

More Higgins

With and about Alex, a piece from the Sydney Morning Herald.

Thanks to Jen!

And there are a lot of pictures on the My Fair Lady Australia Facebook Page.

My Fair Lady Press

The first images and videos of the Sydney production were made available today.

Anna O'Byrne, who plays Eliza posted this picture:

📸 Don Arnold @myfairladyaus #myfairlady #elizadoolittle #theraininspain

Een foto die is geplaatst door Anna O'Byrne (@annaobyrne) op 31 Aug 2016 om 9:30 PDT

Various tweets with short extracts:

"The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain" #MyFairLady #sneakpeek pic.twitter.com/EqNLYEUrrs

— My Fair Lady AU (@myfairladyaus) September 1, 2016

"I could pass you off as the Queen of Sheba" #MyFairLady #FlowerGirl pic.twitter.com/GeeVsDZ9q7

— My Fair Lady AU (@myfairladyaus) September 1, 2016

Toi toi toi to the cast & crew of @MyFairLadyAus for the opening performance at @SydOperaHouse tonight! pic.twitter.com/zIY3xcQSiw

— Opera Australia (@OperaAustralia) August 30, 2016

A short article by Ben Neutze was published at the Daily Review.