My Fair Lady

On Saturday we met up with friends in Stockport to see My Fair Lady at the Stockport Plaza. To be honest we weren't terribly optimistic - Stockport and amateur dramatics!! But one of our close friends was making his debut with the Stockport Operatic Society, so we felt we should be supportive. 

So imagine our surprise when we arrived at the theatre, it was absolutely gorgeous, a real Art Deco gem and very large, but the auditorium was very full, with a very enthusiastic audience.

The production was amazing. After the first 20 minutes or so I completely forgot that I was watching an amateur production and found myself comparing the performances very favourably with Opera North's production earlier this year. The performers were so polished, the voices on pitch and excellent, and the acting and dancing so good. Comparing notes at the interval, we all agreed that we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. 

However, I did find myself wondering how relevant the younger people in the audience found the performance. After all, George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion debuted in 1913 and the film first hit our screens in 1964. Would the teenager and young adult of 2024 understand the obsession with speaking correctly, deportment and social standing of the Edwardian era? Did they understand the social experiment around which the play pivots? I don't know the answer, but there were lots of young people in the audience, and they all seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. 

All in all an excellent afternoon's entertainment!