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It's a Wonderful Life by Cygnet Theatre Company 
One of the great musicals of all time is now playing in one of the great theatres of San Diego with Cygnet Theatre putting on a loverly production of Lerner and Lowe’s
My Fair Lady. And With A Little Bit O’Luck you’ll get a chance to see this touching and amusing production.
David Brannen and Sean Murray direct this gem, with Sean Murray also starring as the ingenious linguistics professor Henry Higgins, a confirmed old bachelor who claims he can turn a cockney flower girl into a proper English lady by teaching her to speak more genteel. What he never imagines is that student Eliza Doolittle is going to teach him at least as much as he teaches her. Sean Murray is magnificent as Higgins, his vocal work a splendid tribute to Rex Harrison, and with a sense of humor and, in the end, a moving poignancy that is a marvel to hear and see. Amy Biedel is the chocolate-loving fair lady Eliza Doolittle who shines especially bright as the unpretentious cockney girl with great personality and charm. And then there’s her father. One Alfred P. Doolittle – a common dustman played by uncommon actor Ron Choularton. His charismatic leading of With a Little Bit O’ Luck and Get Me to the Church on Time get the rabble (which includes the audience) riled up and ready for more. The rest of the stellar cast includes Tom Stephenson as Colonel Pickering, Sean Cox as Freddy Eynsford-Hill who does some smooth-sounding, 1914-style stalking of Eliza from out on the street where she lives, Veronica Murphy as Mrs. Higgins, Lee Lampard as Mrs. Pearce, and a small ensemble that does great work as Eliza’s loverly friends (a well-staged scene), as Alfred’s boisterous bunch of townsfolk, and as the prim and proper but “frenzied” horserace fans at Ascot. Sean Murray also acts as set designer, and this production rejects the frills and trappings that accompany many musicals in favor of a more modest set. There are a couple props and pieces of furniture, but the most visible set piece is the background that changes to a variety of different sketches. It works surprisingly well. Remarkably well in some cases, as when cast members fumble with a light switch next to the outline of a lamp in the Higgins study, a stage light actually turns on! Performs through December 24, 2006.
~ Cast ~
 George Bailey: Tom AndrewMary Hatch: Amy Biedel Judith Church: Amy Dalton Violet Bick, Zuzu Bailey, Others: Melissa Fernandes Clarence Oddbody, Uncle Billy, Others: David Gallagher Harry Bailey, Others: Trevor Hollingsworth Mr. Potter, Others: Mark Larson Mrs. Bailey, Others: Veronica Murphy Sam Hinds: Scott Paulson Director: Sean Murray Musical Director: Amy Dalton Foley Sound Design: Scott Paulson Lighting Design: Eric Lotze Sound Design: George Ye Costume Design: Jeanne Reith Properties Design: Bonnie Durben Stage Manager: Kelsey Wilcox |