There is something very ethereal about the EmilyAnn Theatre. For a moment it’s just a wooded garden, or an archaic Wonderland hidden in the hills of Wimberley.
Then the lights flood down, the characters come to life, and the theater is born. It’s a sanctuary, really, for the days of theater gone by. What better to perform in this haven of classic art, than the timeless play ‘My Fair Lady’?
The trees, and flowers, birds and bugs don’t detract from the show, but, in fact, enhance it. Eliza Doolittle, played by the shining Juli Dearrington, seems to get ever brighter as the night sky dims. It’s an archetypal transformation from poor “good girl” to effervescent “lady,” and Dearrington transcends all that is Eliza.
Carl Galante as Henry Higgins is a proverbial theater powerhouse in ‘Lady’. Only months ago was he the scheming Paravicini in The Wimberley Players’ ‘Mousetrap’, than the not-so-pious preacher Duncan Wooley in ‘Leadng Ladies’. Seeing him embody the eloquent, ill-mannered Higgins so famously is no surprise.
An unbelievably enjoyable character is Alfred Doolittle, manifested by first-time actor Ian Green. He stole every scene he was in and had audiences cheering and laughing with and at his character.
The choreography is enrapturing and exciting. To add to that are brothers Dillan and Colton Windham with spectacular dancing and acrobatics. The audience’s “ooh”s and “ahh”s don’t even begin to display how enthralling and dazzling they are as a team.
‘My Fair Lady’, directed by Angie Lassetter, is an exquisite summertime show. There are four more chances to catch the show: tonight, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday of next weekend. All showings are at 8 p.m. For information and to purchase tickets call (512) 847-6969 or go to emilyann.org.
