WHAT: “My Fair Lady.”
WHERE: Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark. 888-466-5722 or njpac.org for more information.
WHEN: 7:30 tonight through Thursday, with an additional 1:30 p.m. performance Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
HOW MUCH: $23 to $79.
By EVELYN SHIH
Staff Writer
As spring creeps ever closer, do you have a hankering for “The Rain in Spain”? When you’re out on the town, do you ever think to yourself, “I Could’ve Danced All Night”?
You’re in luck: British director Cameron Mackintosh’s updated production of the stage musical “My Fair Lady” is coming to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Central characters Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle are played by leads from the award-winning West End production in London, Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O’Hare.
As Mrs. Higgins, Henry’s mother, American actress and vocalist Marni Nixon isn’t just another Yank. She was the voice behind Audrey Hepburn’s Eliza in the movie version of “My Fair Lady”— and has played Eliza onstage. (She also dubbed Natalie Wood’s singing parts in “West Side Story.”)
An opera and stage veteran, she’s finding herself right at home in the story she’s known and loved over the years. We spoke to her about the experience before her arrival in Newark.
Q. Tell us about your character, Mrs. Higgins.
Well, you really get to see where Higgins gets his perfectionist tendencies. Even though I don’t sing, it’s an important part, and it’s quite integral to the show.
… I just recently did Mrs. Higgins in New York City with Kelsey Grammer. It was four performances. It wasn’t a full production, but it was with the New York Philharmonic. That was the first time I had done the role of Mrs. Higgins. When they asked me to be in this stage production, I just knew I wanted to do it.
Q. How did you prepare yourself for the part?
To make it real, you have to duplicate the relationship that you evidently have had with your son. Then you can say the lines and it makes them real. Whatever you make up in your mind that causes you to say that. As if you’ve been that person. As if those things were real. Then you don’t have to think so much about saying the lines.
Q. The role of Mrs. Higgins is a comic part, and you’ve played many comedic roles in the past. Do you have an affinity for comedy?
It’s like hitting a ball back on the court. You need to hit it at the right time, and it takes off if the line is good. That’s one of the great joys of live theater. To be able to play it like live music.
Q. What was most important to you when you were playing the lead character, Eliza?
She has to have a full dimension of knowing what it means to be a guttersnipe, and also what it means to be an extreme lady. You have to pull upon more experiences.
Q. What is it like to work on a production that was first done in the U.K.?
They keep it very current. They keep coming over from England to make sure the production is staying intact. It’s a wonderful thing to have those people be on you all the time.
… This is the most opulent production of “My Fair Lady” that I’ve been in. It’s got a large cast, and it’s wonderful. The lighting is gorgeous; the costumes are gorgeous.
Q. What do you think of the lead players?
They were a part of the original direction for the show. So they went through the process of investigating who the characters are, with the director.
I think that Lisa O’Hare is quite astounding, and she keeps growing in the role. So does Christopher. They keep coming from an original source. It’s not just done by rote. They’re very steady and sturdy, and their professionalism is wonderful.
E-mail: shih@northjersey.com
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