Tonight marks the premiere of My Fair Lady, on Gamle Scene. I am quite excited to see it at some point during its run (April 30-June 5), if only because I love love love the Audrey Hepburn movie version. And the cast has been rehearsing in the ballet's theatre, which means that for the past couple of months I've been lucky enough to walk into work to the dulcet tones of live orchestra and professional singers belting out the excellent score of this musical. I've also caught glimpses of some of the costumes, and let me just say: They are quirky, whimsical, giant teacups-as-hats are involved, and I love them.
The production has been the subject of some controversy here in Denmark, bringing up a legal debate about whether musicals should be performed at any of the three stages, since they are not definitively classified as any one of the three art forms: opera, acting, or ballet. Either way, it will be interesting to see what this production has to offer, and how the public receives it. I, for one, am looking forward to it; and since I know the story and the music, it will be a free Danish lesson for me--bonus :) [Side note: You gotta love a country where a musical can stir up legitimate controversy in the media...]
Det Kongelige Teater offers this description (excuse the Google Translation):
"For the first time ever, bring the Royal Theatre musical classic My Fair Lady on the poster. What's in the spring of 2010 at Old Stage where national scene unites its actors, singers and musicians in a new construction of this classic tale that is full of the best musical numbers and are known from the movie with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.
My Fair Lady is the story of flower girl Eliza, who learns to make the bourgeoisie, as the stiff-necked and nostalgic Professor Higgins takes her on a grand tour of the old virtues. Along the way, however, they both learn about who they are and what they are, they are seeking in their lives.
The actors in the festive musical include Søren Pilmark, who returns to the Royal Theatre in the role of Professor Higgins - a role he shares with Tom Jensen. Eliza Doolittle, as Higgins takes under his wing, played by Cecilie Stenspil, who has gained great success for her key role in DR-Series Body-Guard and the role of Bess in Breaking the Waves at Odense Theatre. Among the other participants, we meet such Zlatko Buric as Alfred Doolittle and Malene Schwartz as Mrs. Higgins.
Opera Chief Kasper Holten stands for the new, colorful staging."
And two videos, from kglteater.net:
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