1958-06-14 — Page 7

4

THE CHINA MAIL. SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1958.

Would Shaw Approve

NO

one knows whether ghosts, walk or indulge in ironic laughter but if they do then Bernard Shaw's ghost must have had a night out in London recently. For the last two years the fame of “My Fair Lady" the musical comedy based on Shaw's "Pygmalion" had spread from New York to the outside world.

.

Returning Britishers from managament that no one but America acquired λ apecial the friends of the principal stara dignity if they had seen the plece could be invited to the dressing cn Broadway, and in Now York rooms aller the show. fiselt a man's importance soared if he procured a couple of seats during the run.

Therefore, as I had long ring? ceased to be a London dramatic critle it was merely as a forlom hope that I wrote to Elle Liter who, with his brother, controin tho famous Drury suggested Lane Theatre, and that he might sell me two tickets for the opening night.

Like a good friend Emile wrote to me that it was quite impossible and week later sent me two stals on the aisle for the premiere ordinary prices.

arc

VIP Guests

at

When the great night came the streeta were crowded with people who just wanted to see the fortunate ones making their way into the theatre,. The flashes of cameras were like the lent bombardment of an enemy trench. In fact it was one of those occasions which can only take place in a metropolis.

Among the notable first night guest

were the Lord Chan cellor and his wife, although it was the fist time I have ever seen any Lord Chancellor at musical comedy. But there was in special reason for it. Lord Kituir is married to the sister of Rex Harrison who was play- ing the male ad. Iseldentally Lady Klmuir Is tractive ercature who could have done well on the stage it she had followed In her brother's footsteps. Her voice Jus autumnut tints.

of

22

most

al-

There were bitter exchanges with the management and final- celied to ly the police were

to

Of 'My

Fair Lady'?

By SIR BEVERLEY BAXTER, M.P.

the musical play belongs not to the

the triumph composer.

the that can- George Ber-

Their Accent

oject the autograph hunters, them when the bigger man of Also there was resentment the two said: "We just thought because

had been we would like to say hullo. the adapter, librettist, or no encores

This is Dick Rodgers and I'm lyric writers--but to allowed. But there was reason for that. The manage Oscar Hammerstein. We won- tankerous genius,

the dered If you would like to see nard Shaw, ment naturally wanted newspaper men to get away cur show while you're here." their paperE and proclaim the triumph of the new show.

-Now let us apply the critical instinct. Tlure are some good the show and for n Margs in change the chorus plays a vital In the London scene part

of merely sladding around and waiting for their C10. And although nex Harrison sings Wee. arrow he charm which a debonair does something to the opposite Ex. Nor is that a mere pose. In real life Rex has adhered to

of "Marry the principle haste amt repent at leisure,"

18

What Is It?

What a contrast they mede- the big, bulky, sentimental Hammerstein who always wrote the story and the lyrics ani the keen eyed, unsmiling Richard the composer of Rodgers,

and haunting luscious melodies

I was told on that refrains, visit that Hammerstein always trying to let some un- have The fortunate producer rights to put on their new show al

SUM

"My Fair Lady”—Julie Andrews.

More than in any other coun- try men and women in Britain Scot, of course, is D are judged by their necent. The Jaw.unto himself, but in England a mon or woman can be socially ruined

not half as funny? Belleve i study bịm with the Interest of of their speech. by the manner The wil or

wisdom does not or not they were afraid that in scientists in a collapsing body.

.days the matler. If on unfortunate these madern moment, but that when

реглот says: "It's cold isn't expletive would not shock any Rodgers, the musician, finally he or she is belf way to one. Instead, they put on some- concluded a contract the doctors Siberia.

thing'so crude that 1⁄2 produced hed to supply restoratives to the

nothing but an embarrassing lawyers.

But now to return to the London theatre of today. A few months ago there was a gasp of artanishment and even horor when it was announced that the house But when we had gone, home subsidised second opera

Wells" and I was

sipping an amber of London-"Sadler's

break with tradi and put on "The Merry quid by the fireside I tried to was going understand what there is is Widow." There were Angry My Fair Lady" as compared letters to the press and it look with such musical plays TUT ed as the matter might even "Oklahoma," "Carousel" and even "The Merry Widow" which was triumphantly revived the Sadler's Wells optra house only a few weeks ago,

nt

tlon

silence.

gory

Suddenly the young mbereant stops his jibes. Ja failing tones he tried to justify his life as on

cheat and a

erilst even though he has been

weakling.

But his last wretched husband.

Feebly he moments are near.

his hands and then folds whispern his artist's creed-

"I believe in Michelangelo, pure Velasquez

and Rembrandt; in

This WES the truth that G.B.S. saw. He himself had a Irish pleasant yet pronounced

Undoubtedly the best number voice but then English put up of "My Fair Lady" is that with him because of his genius, rhythmle

song "The Roin in Being a Celt he was attracted to Spain" which is sung in the the study of the English people at scene. This who judged their fellow crea-Shaw, for in Pygmalion" that the might of design, the mystery the younger generation will of colour, the redemption of all forgel, or never wrote anything else.

남자를 입고 있다

learn, that he

7

Great Heights be raised on the floor of the

House of Commons on the grounds that the money of the lix payers, which provide the Wells and subsidy of Sadler's Covent Garden,

being wrongly used,

Pretty Ladies

I shall never forget the first night of "Oklahoma" whir, incidentally, was also performed at Drury Lane, We had lived for

in the midst of so long desiruction and our cities had become Hitler's "Target for To-

But what a first night "The night." Undernourished and weary we could not believe our Merry Widow" provided. In

tures by the manner rather than the content of their speech.

So in the cauldron of his brain there emerged the plot of a Cockney flower girl who at tracted the amused interest of a Professor of Phoneties with the result that the Professor decided to teach her how to speak like In fact woman of breeding. be set out to prove that it is possible to make o silk purse out of 60w's car.

Yet for

the some reason authors of "My Fair Lady" ce- cided to alter the big moment of Elzo, having the play when behaved and spoken like a per- fect Indy at a social gathering. a young man's sug- geation that he should escort her through the Park, with the famous riposte: INGL bloody the play those ikely1" La words were always spoken with and It exaggerated refinement

failed

and 10 startle never mmuse,

Why did the authors of "My Fair Lady" decide to substitute something far moes vulgar and

Encores & Flowers nses when, after the war had stead of jessing females we had replied to

erdus, the vibrant production of pretty ladies in long skirts, and therefore "Oklahoma" gave us not de utterly feminine So the curtain went up on the struction-but the joyous birth utterly adorable. As for Lehar's

Convent fanillar

Garden pangs of a new Territory. The music ! has the perfect bouquet Obulously the vegetable market with the Pro- haunting clop-clop of the "Sur- of good wine.

fringe on top" is theatre-going public had groten fessor of Phonelles becoming rey with the Interested In the Cockney still my memory although it tired of bonding females and

Eliza Doolittle, is years since we first heard it at epileptle rag-time, exuberance Rex Harrison was never intend that wonderful premiere,

by nature lo sing but what does that matter? Both he and good Stanley Holloway, the latter a long established London favourite who played the lead

role in the ing male Cocktey New York production, welcome home with cheers,

were

Not since

Then there wore the rest of "Annie gel them--"Carousel."

Gun," "South Pacific, you

"The King and I." Gilbert and Sullivan had there been such a perfect partnership ns that of Rodgers and Hom- merstein.

On Tour

was

Therefore, when "My Folr Lady" arrived In London it was to find a vast and exciting public which was already feeling its way back to the 00's when women were lovely gentle and men wore their creatures

female. devoted masters. The Acrobat as dead as the doda The abundant days of good Queen Victoria are returning at test in the theatre.

And what an cuthor for "My Fair Lady!" Bernard Shaw, the

At the end of the performance there were chores and flowers unill It seemed as if we would never get home. When fally we went cui lo try and steal a In 1948 I went to' America on taxi there was a bigger crowd a speaking tour and cne of my

ever its the streets. In engagements

the Dutch than short London

endorsed the Treat Club in New York. After verdict of New York so firmly my eration the essembled guests that the Drury Lane Thatre and members went back to their will not want a new termant for various tasics but the next two years or more. walted behind to shake hands. It was a night of complete Thinking that they might be

were visiting the triumph only marred by the un- comituents who fortunato

decision ol the New York 1 advanced upon Lady"

two men

things by Beauty everinsting, and the message of Art that ans made these hands blessed. Amen, Amea."

That is the other G.B.S., who in his best moments comasiand- Yet there is that other and ea a musicianship of langucor greater G.B.S. whose genius only passed by Shakespeare gave us "Heartbreak House" and himself. If "My Fair Lady".

Tho

Dilemma" turns the Doclor's

proundlings towards Nelther of these plays has been the rich

Shaw's garden of performed in London for some genius then it will have justified death, itself. years although in the Fcene of the wretched twister of an artist In "The

1 believe that Shaw Dilemma" rose to his greatest heights.

Doctor's

Blasphemy?

There before us in "The Dec- At worst "My Fair Lady" is a tor's Dilemma" is the artist in

form of blasphemy but if Shaw his dying last moments. He has is able to look down upon it treated fils wife badly, and has from the top of Mount Olympus cheated for money. The doc- 1 am certal that he will ap- tors, puzzled by his condition, prove if only because it will are deeply interested in the ease iring thousands of pounds to although they know that he is a the Shaw Estate and thus help wretched, worthless creature. to nance the great man's pre- plan for a new Frpm his death chair the artist posterous mocks the doctors while they English alphabet.

Why Must They Push

DON

ON'T expect to sec any gipsies if you Western

Us Around?

nian who spent so much of his drive up Fine trying to debunk Shake-Avenue at the weekend.

a hundred ways speare and, in declaring the gealus of himself, The fields have all been great G.B.S., hud fenced in at great ex- the posthumously written the libretto for a musical comedy.

pense and the

grass deal," said Fully, baby on knee, "The coppers came fer me, verges are now taboo to "On Wednesday we were moved too, but I was out," she smlice. travellers like most other on from morning till night and her Jezebel car-rings jungling,

at eight o'clock arrived back and her gold teeth snapping. roads in Southern Eng- here where we started." She

pointed up the ovenue, land.

"They spent £550 fencing t

It is true that Shaw was not sole author of "My Fair

but when

you analyse

The Festival Trot -latest in music

by Noel Goodwin

A friend

I had six cups of tea in six cft this year. Why couldn't they By the railway bridge at the different caravans thla

week spend the money on some lard end of the yard is a hoarding, "Will you help 200,000 displaced

and I didn't need to be a team for us? leaf teller to read the heart's desire of each of my hosts.

Bygone days

"Give us somewhere to settle down."

I visited "Sixky's mother" al West Drayton, who was lost week carted off in a Black Maria

Larmour, my

traveller's friend for thirty years,

companion from

and advocato

By Romany Bain

I felt Polly was full of good persons?" It reads. Intentions about hygiene and "Look at that," said Willem education, but I really believed Liljan Smith in her spruce the London City Mission and the traller. near Ivor..

She was

who A cockney The days of brightly cled married a traveller, and is iceen

"If I were to come from Tim- Romanies roaming along, on the three Rs. I keep writing country Janes because they love to the council to ask for an ex- buctoo, and tell of the cerditions can stay at I see on my rounds, people rooming, are over. They move tension so Bonnie

huge fund and will allow school," she said, putting away would start

send me out to help them." trumpet fanfares on because no one

them to stay,

a huge brces tea urn she was

London Express Serolce). spite of political menis at Hereford next Septem- Wagner, with

summoning you to the opera

Any complaint from any two- polishing and putting a kettle on thunderclouds, music fes- ber for the 231st year running.

the the electric cooker, But first to Glyndebourne. To house at teatime. Salzburg...

dweller and

on his bike. tivals at home and abroad the tiny epera house built oul of Munich. Eastwards to Athens, penny house are having their boomiest a barn next to John Chrlatice if you dare, Yugoslavia too: the copper drives up

mansion-the family, storiling beauty of Dubrovnik, Four pounds tea is a usual fine Sussex

ol 70 because she couldn't pay summer ever.

home for 700 years. Its all-star and a choice of 17 natural open in the Southem counties. Atd

it's out in two hours, or else. international opera now ranks air stages.

Eighty-three-year-old Tobias her £4 10s, fine, and heard how Home Slace the war an ever growing with the world's best,

It was being docked from her 10 Edinburgh, now

travelled the demand for holidays-with-music Westwards to Bath, which rapidly climbing in International Smith who has

And lastly I saw Rose Smith, tas spattered the free of Europe

£2,000,000 to be left with his family near

her eighteen Bons with a rash of nearly 50 major C. B. Cochran, hoped would be prestige, the city traders con- roads all his life is the last one old-age pension.

come the Salzburg of England. Bequently pocketing

In one of the roundabouts on the with six of festivals, Britain included.

to £3,000,000 from visitors

and daughters in the scrap yard After a three-year gap it is

the had just moved to They beckon alluringly frem

Is three weeks of festival.

"WO'Te

here they only allowed Hereford's A brief rest at some of Europe's loveliest, most back un the festival map again.

Lo Britain's exciting pisces. They could, if Currency restrictions allowed, newest-international epers in Three Chairs before a last fling. because did's nearly blind and previous night.

the Great Hall Ingestre, the To Venice for shock treatment keep you continuously, on A festival-trot from now to the Earl of Shrewsbury's stately from its all-modern programmes

A cham- among the natural attractions. home near Stafford.

out-of-the- end of October.

Pèrugla, for an thrown in with All you need is a fat "divi" pagne dinner

way site in the centre of Italy at the sun from the pools, a yen for travel, each four-guinea tickel. and a 10-gallon thirst for music.

Time now to look further and a last touch sfield. To Bergen, with a flord before grim-faced Berlin, most for a garden and the music of forward-looking of all festivals. I bring you back to earth at- Grieg... opera and ballet in of all places-Leeds, because !!

Helsinki for Stockholm Just for the fun of it I took

"uncrowned king happens to be la centenary this the festival calendar and a map Sibellus, the

England massed choirs have one person of Finland." And the longest of year, and because the North of

summer days.

majesty all their own.

HOW MANY?

to see how many

could sample in a season, esa physlent possiblity.

My "magic carpet" dream- holiday-with-music would

Northwards

LIFE-BLOOD

tako

Not less thon

you to 23 festivala in 21 weeks. From Helsinki to Granada; from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik,

A

week in

ENCHANTING

a

The carpets rolled up:

Vienna, for sure. Scarred and Many places have been missed. alvided though the city, s. They will still be there another

It begins. Very properly, in music is still its life-blood, ita, sundmer-if you have recovered. England. Because muske fest common joy. The great new by then.

vals were OUR invention. The opera house, risen from the old Even those many thousands iden wes fist born in London blitzed shell, means more to for whom a single festival is the Just 30 years ago, as a means Vienna than even Parliament practical limit know that to help needy clergymen,

THE OLDEST

We still boost festival

for the

building or town ball.

they want it, a supply of holiday Pot-luck in sietely Florence enchantment is theirs novelly at Spoleto rest of their lives.

festival fashion is calculato

Granada... Holland.... Alk Most valuable of all, the

the oldest en-Provence. Pause for Three -going - Cho

a deep breath spread good will That, the Cholts Festival of Gloucester, before the pilgrimage to Day- thinkers tell us, is the only true Lieroford, and Worcester. it reuth, Germany's shrine of and absolute sort of goodness.

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