Smashing Opening Weekend for My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady had a successful opening this weekeend with over 800 tickets sold. After two months of diligent rehearsal, the students' work paid off in what director Brent Beerman called "great performances" that even he was still excited to see again and again.

Starring Hallie Isquith as Eliza Doolittle and Jordan Van Treese as Henry Higgins, the production was a lesson in quality. From the set design to the costumes to the acting to the singing, the show exuded talent. Perhaps the choreography left a little to be desired, yet for its simplicity, it was executed cleanly. The live orchestra featured 23 students from CVH, including  on harp.

It's easy to see why Isquith and Van Treese were chosen to lead the show; both delivered very funny, laugh-out-loud performances, what with Isquith hollering in her Cockney accent and Van Treese pacing the stage in a ridiculous and pompous air. Both had impressive singing voices, especially Van Treese.

Other standouts among the 30-member cast were CJ Standley as Alfred P. Doolittle and Michael Naoumovitch as Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Standley rose to the challenge--to play a man at least twice his age--remarkably; his magnetism and lovely singing voice carried him through the performance. Standley also rendered one of the best accents in the play.

Naoumovitch's role as Eliza's suitor was humorous. Furthermore, he brought a tangible charm to the character and was entirely believable as a wide-eyed, love-besotted gentleman roaming the streets of London.

Connor Holmes, too, made a delightful and subtly funny Colonel Pickering, and was a perfect compliment to Van Treese.

Audience members were blown away by the show. Like Beerman, local resident Debbie Pile noted the production's quality, calling it "so professional."

"I think all of it was great," she said. "You get so caught up in the story you forget they're just high school kids. "

Lynn Thomas, who had two daughters in the show, also commented on the quality. She saw the show three times over the weekend and said the quality "really surprised" her.

My Fair Lady is playing twice throughout the week to soldout shows of 1500 elementary students. Next weekend they close with shows on March 4-5 at 8 p.m. Call 818-426-0183 or 818-249-5871 to reserve tickets, which range from $5-15.