By Maliha Adams (October 27, 2004)

Rehearsals for the drama department’s winter musical My Fair Lady, began last week. After having to switch from the anticipated Little Shop of Horrors because of frozen script rights, cast hopefuls had to re-audition for an entirely different musical.

The roles in My Fair Lady require actors with a strong grasp of convincing cockney as well as aristocratic British accents. Set in early 19^th century London, the musical is based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Eliza Doolittle, a dirty, destitute flower girl with a strong cockney accent, is taken in on a bet by two confirmed bachelors. Henry Higgins, a renowned professor of linguistics, claims that he can turn this street urchin into a refined lady presentable to high society. He, along with the help of his visiting friend, Colonel Pickering, succeeds in doing so, fooling every aristocratic socialite including a young Freddie Eynsford-Hill who falls madly in love with Eliza. But when Higgins takes all the credit for her success, Eliza angrily leaves him for Freddie. It’s only until she’s gone that Higgins realizes he’s "grown accustom to her face".

Rehearsals are slightly longer than usual because of two weeks of lost time, but director Mrs. Ricker is working hard to put together this production. "I’m very excited about the vocal and acting talent available and am expecting a good show…it’s a challenge to do a show with students I don’t know, but we’re getting to know each other and we’re learning from each other". The cast includes Dan Burkey as Prof. Higgins, Maliha Adams as Eliza Doolittle, Andy Tonken as Colonel Pickering and Gavin Argo as Freddie Eynsford-Hill.

A bewildered Colonel Pickering (junior, Andy Tonken), listens to a critical Professor Higgins (senior, Dan Burkey) ranting about the butchering of the English Language during rehearsal. (Photo by Ashleigh Luthman-Hackett)	Junior, Maliha Adams, and senior, Dan Burkey, rehearse for the winter musical My Fair Lady. Speaking with British accents required concentration from both the actors. (Photo by Ashleigh Luthman-Hackett)