a new kind of lADY MYKE BARTLETT MEETS A THOROUGHLY MODERN ELIZA DOOLITTLE
F
or soprano Anna O’Byrne, playing Eliza Doolittle attempt to address the gender politics of the original. has been quite an education. Chosen by Dame The romance between Eliza and Professor Henry Julie Andrews herself for the 50th-anniversary Higgins (played by British actor Charles Edwards) was revival of My Fair Lady, Melbourne-born Anna previously explicit, but the new production leaves it to says the stage and screen legend has become something the audience to decide exactly what sort of relationship of a mentor. the pair enjoy. “She gave me some of the best singing lessons I’ve ever For Anna, the show is more powerful – and relevant – had,” Anna says. “Text is so important to Julie, really for shifting the tale away from a simple love story. communicating the story and making sure every single “Now it has some interesting points to make about person in the theatre hears every single word.” how we relate to different sorts of people and equality,” Directed by Dame Julie, the revival proved a she says. “That’s the important thing to me, doing this smash hit during a limited season at the Sydney in 2017. The fear of the other seems very prevalent in Opera House last year. This month, it arrives our society.” in Melbourne. In taking on the role of Eliza, Anna is aware While it’ll be up against the thoroughly she’ll invite comparisons with Hollywood “i googled modern Book of Mormon and Disney’s legends Audrey Hepburn and, of course, feminist updated Aladdin, My Fair Lady proudly perspectives” Dame Julie – who originated the part for its remains a nostalgic throwback to the golden first theatrical run. Yet she seems remarkably age of the stage musical. But even though the sanguine about working under the woman book and aesthetic are half a century old, Anna whose role she has inherited. says it was important the show found something new “Julie was very honest about her apprehension and to say. fears about directing. She’s a very honest person. There “When I found out I’d got the part, I Googled is a sheen there to her, but I was surprised how direct feminist perspectives on My Fair Lady,” Anna says. she was.” “Because I thought, ‘what do I have to say about The audition process spanned three months, with this as a woman?’. So we’re doing a new version in Dame Julie making the final casting decision. Anna says which I get out a giant mallet and whack everyone over she’s not sure what tipped the balance in her favour. the head.” “I didn’t ask her. I knew that it would be a big thing She’s joking, obviously. Eliza keeps her mallet for her to choose someone to take over her role,” she off-stage, although Anna says there has been some says. “We chatted a lot, because I think she wanted to
feel a connection with the person. She liked my strength and encouraged me to explore that.” It’s not the first time Anna has taken on a major role made famous by a star performer. She was finishing her opera training at the Victorian College of the Arts when she was recruited as Christine’s understudy in the Australian production of Phantom of the Opera – a role created by Sarah Brightman. Soon after, Anna was handpicked by Andrew Lloyd Webber himself to play Christine in the Australian production of Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera. She says she does her best to avoid hearing other people play parts she is about to tackle, limiting her research to what’s in the script. “You can’t ignore who has gone before – I was a big fan of Julie Andrews and Sarah Brightman – but hopefully you’re bringing your own instincts.” Love Never Dies proved a breakthrough role for Anna. While the British production had an underwhelming response, the Australian retooling was a smash hit, transferring back to the West End at the end of its run here. Anna went with it and has since made London her home. She and her boyfriend have lived there for five years, although Anna admits their schedules – he also works in theatre – mean they’re rarely in the same place for long. They’re talking about soon taking a shot at Broadway, if only so they can spend more time together. Part of the problem with planning ahead, Anna says, is that she’s already ticked off most of the items
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