Thanks for bringing this up. I saw Benanti for the second time (and the show for the third) two weeks back and couldn't agree more. I was thrilled all over again. I envy your ability to see it again.
I'll add that I saw new things in it on the third viewing. I saw far more clearly how the story includes a budding sense of romance between Eliza and Higgins -- and that Benanti and Hadden-Powell portrayed it beautifully and completely in keeping with the text. But that it's a romance that doesn't stand a chance just because of the artificial class phenomena that Shaw, Lerner and Lowe (through both Higgins and Doolittle) draws to our attention. It's a romance doomed by culture/class ... and ego. I walked out thinking exactly like you that Haden-Powell was robbed in a major way. I love Benanit and thoroughly enjoyed Ambrose, but I realized how fundamental Hadden-Powell is to the success of this production. He's brilliant in the most aptly understated British manner. |
