My Fair Lady - London Coliseum / UK & Ireland Tour

Seeing MFL for a third time last week really brought home how much difference seating position can make to how I feel about a show.

It's my all-time favourite musical. I've travelled the length and breadth of the country* to see around 30 different amateur productions and I know by now every word of the script, so spot immediately if any dialogue has been removed or changed - a fair bit in this one, mainly in act two after the Embassy Ball scene.

First visit was early in the run. I refused to pay the pre-opening price which was around £125 for most of the stalls so happily took the first Rush ticket I could get. It was a long way from the stage, I enjoyed the show but it didn't feel as special as I hoped and expected and yes the sound was iffy. Second time I got the stalls but side and a fair way back, then last week through the What's On Stage offer I finally got to see the show from the centre front row stalls and I absolutely loved it. Stephen K. Amos has settled into playing Alfred P. Dolittle and the orchestra, all of whom I could clearly see from my seat, was loud and clear so the score sounded wonderful. I could make out details in the set and costumes I was previously too distant to see clearly. Apart from the cut-down overture it was everything I expected. I even finally bought a programme. Happy Days!

* The furthest was at Lancaster Grand Theatre, quite a trek from Kent for the Saturday matinee but not a problem as I enjoy train travel almost as much as musicals. Advance tickets booked, uneventful journey to Lancaster, 2.15 start. MFL usually runs for about three hours so I had booked a train back to London at 5.45. Station is about 10 minutes walk away. It started just a few minutes late, had a HUGE strong amateur cast way bigger than at the Coliseum. The musical numbers were done really well and most were longer than usual especially the opening Covent Garden scene which was around double the usual length and included a group of children dancing.. Interval therefore not till well after 4 pm and unfortunately for me at 5.30 we were still in Mrs Higgins' garden which is at least 15 minutes from the end. I decided to leave then as it would have cost about £80 for a new ticket to travel on the next train. It would otherwise have been a strong contender for my favourite ever presentation.

What's on stage site seems to have the best offer deal at present with 95 seats down to 50 (unless the ENO 25 offer as per earlier in this thread is still going)
Otherwise Ticketmaster or love theatre have discounted tickets.
And the Leicester square TKTS site always has on the day tickets but not as good discount as the above sites

Plus there’s rush tickets on TodayTix of course…

You’d hope by now they’ve cast the tour!

I'm beginning to wonder that. It's not selling well at all at my local venue and still no cast who must he in, or about to start rehearsals. You'd also think they'd want the cast announcement help drum up sales

Could it be that the London cast will remain for the tour - or have there already been announcements to the contrary ?

Picked up one of the many reduced ticket offers for this for Tuesday matinee and stalls seemed full.
After the comments in the thread about the orchestra they sounded superb and played the score wonderfully but unfortunately often drowned out the vocals who sound was very strange, often sounded just muffled and garbelled, safe to say most of the audience knew the story but several of the classic lines fell flat.

Harry as Henry Higgins was the stand out but all cast were good despite the lack lustered design of the show.
It's always unclear what relationship the two leads could have going forward but the total lack of a sexual chemistry between these two makes the last half hour where they are meant to be in turmoil over their emotions bit daft as no one would have believed there was the slightly spark, a friendship yes, relationship no.

My fair lady has too many classic songs and one liners and just hearing those makes an enjoyable show. Biggest disappointment was the I'm getting married which in this version just seems a clumsy and crude routine rather than the normal celebratory number it is.

Michael Xavier (swoon) as Henry Higgins, Charlotte Kennedy as Eliza, and drumroll please… Adam Woodyatt as Alfred Doolittle 😱

I’m sure Michael and Charlotte will be great but Adam being cast would definitely put me off I’m afraid 😞

Some nice press photos of Adam and Charlotte outside the Coliseum though!

Oh I'd been told Garrett was Mrs Higgins so that IS a surprise.

I saw Xavier back in 2001/2002 as Freddy in the brilliant National Theatre production at Drury Lane.

Lesley Garrett is a strange choice!