My Fair Lady Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...After becoming disheartened with cheap bus-and-truck tours, with their just-out-of-school casts and computerized orchestras, the board and staff of the Paramount Theatre in Aurora decided to take the bold move of staging their own Equity musical productions in the historic, gorgeous 1800-seat venue on the banks of the Fox River, just across from the Hollywood Casino. The Paramount placed a very big bet on the Chicago talent pool —there are 31 mostly union actors in the cast here and a head-turning, ear-thrilling, live orchestra of 23 union musicians playing the glorious numbers of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...Yes, this production of the peerless Lerner and Loewe musical that so ideally channels George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion” is that good. By every parameter it is emblematic of Broadway at its strongest —in its overall scale and concept, in the depth of talent of its cast, in the lustrous sound of its orchestra (led by musical director Shawn Stengel), in the beauty and cleverness of its design, and above all in the exhilarating, gorgeously detailed work of Jim Corti, its director and choreographer, who seems to have even set designer Jim Dardenne’s puzzle-box scenery dancing."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...The lavish sets, gorgeous score, witty lyrics, fine period costumes and the spirited performances makes Paramount Theatre’s inaugural Broadway musical a high standard affair that instantly gives Paramount credibility. We need a western suburban theatre such as the 1800 seat large proscenium stage Paramount Theatre to succeed so that large-scale classic musical can be offered outside of downtown Chicago with our home-grown talents."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...As musical theatre, "My Fair Lady" is a classic in every sense of the word. Those glorious Frederick Loewe melodies perfectly wedded to the crisp, witty and intelligent words of Alan Jay Lerner never fail to delight. And the score sounds as enticing as ever under the baton of Musical Director Shawn Stengel and the 21-piece Paramount orchestra. Be forewarned: "My Fair Lady" is an epic-sized musical whose first act alone runs the length of an average non-musical play. Sitting for such a long period in the typically uncomfortable seating of the otherwise beautiful and ornate Paramount Theatre can be an exercise in endurance. Keeping the large opening night audience waiting for twenty minutes to accommodate liquor-loving latecomers is another pet peeve of mine. But that irritation should not detract from the marvelous achievement of Director Jim Corti and his remarkable company. Whether this is your first or fiftieth "Lady," the Paramount's version of the old gal is as loverly as they come."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...There are many Chicago area veterans, most of whom have worked with Corti in the past ,in this production- Mary Ernster as Mrs Higgins, Paula Scrofano as Mrs.Pearce ( also having played this role before, but again with some freshness). I was truly surprised by the casting of Andrew J. Lupp as Eliza’s father Alfred P. Doolittle. This is in most cases a larger man and Lupp, being a strong dancer, is smaller in stature, but wow, is he large in talent. Corti uses his talent to make sure that his two big numbers, “With A Little Bit Of Luck” ( along with Carl Draper and Bobby Johnson) and “Get Me To The Church On Time) where Corti uses the ensemble to bring the house down! A surprise casting move that is a very positive one."

Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended

"...No question, My Fair Lady is a near perfect musical, here taken to the heights it pioneered 55 years ago. Shaw fans may prefer the more realistic finale of “Pygmalion” to L and L’s crowd-pleasing, sentimental happy ending (well, Eliza never was a feminist icon). But it’s the journey, not the destination, and these three hours make every minute golden. Kane County never shone brighter."