2.2 My Fair Lady!

The Gospel of Musical Theatre

We know you've been waiting for it - this week, we take a critical (but loving) look at Lerner & Loewe's best-known musical, the 1956 classic My Fair Lady! And the faultless Julie Andrews!

We talk about:

- Myths & Legends: The show’s origin in the mythology of Ovid and the social agenda of English playwright George Bernard Shaw – and, perhaps, the Biblical story of Job.

- The "Grass Is Greener" Effect: The musical’s exploration of the philosophical question, “If you got everything you wanted, would that really make you happy?”

- Misogyny: The misogyny of the idea (both theatrical and religious) of a masculine God who controls men & women. How does My Fair Lady both perpetuate and push back on these images?

- Love Stories: The true love story of My Fair Lady. Is it Eliza and Higgins? Eliza and Freddy? Higgins and Pickering? Or some combination?

- The Challenge of the Ending: Is My Fair Lady a redemption story or an indictment of Henry Higgins and everything he represents?

- Complacency: The danger of “becoming accustomed” – to faces, situations, and damaging cultural norms.

You’ll hear:

- Julie Andrews (Patron Saint of this podcast) singing “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “I Could Have Danced All Night” from the 1959 West End cast recording.

- Rex Harrison singing “A Hymn to Him” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” from the 1959 West End recording.

Continue the conversation with Peter (@pgeinvan) and Nathan (@nathan_lerud) on Twitter, and join the conversation at the Gospel of Musical Theatre!