Date: 08 October 2008 07:35:42
This afternoon I added an additional 2,283 words [according to Word] to my rambling on my assignment, "Project Management and Software Quality: The Necessity of Considering Sociological Aspects."
[that just makes you want to beg me for a copy, doesn't it? :)]
Thanks be to God. And thanks for your prayers, thoughts and wishes below. They are truly appreciated and greatly valued.
So, on to My Fair Lady.
I knew some of the songs, I knew the basic plot...but having never seen a production, either on stage or on the TV or at the movies, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Before-hand, I took my mum to the Lindt Chocolat Café at Martin Place, where we had focaccias, and then indulged in various chocolate treats, including a Hot Chocolate and Vanilla Chocolate Cake for mum, and a Mocha and Hot Chocolate Sundae for me. Mmmm...decadent.
Then to the show. The The Theatre Royal is a grand and lovely theatre, but I am guessing people were either shorter, or more prepared to be uncomfortable, when it was built -- not a great deal of room between rows. But the views are great, given the steepness of the seating.
The show...wow. And wow again. Richard E Grant can hold a tune, and hold it rather well. He is one of my favourite actors, and he plays Professor Henry Higgins marvellously. Eliza Doolittle is played by Taryn Fiebig, and she is magnificent as well: as are the whole cast -- Nancye Hayes is a superb acerbic Mrs Higgins and Rhys McConnochie as Colonel Pickering in particular. But, truly, all the cast were magnificent.
The production values are top-notch -- it is being put on by Opera Australia. Magnificent sets that transport you back in time, a joyous orchestra that has you tapping your toes, wonderful costumes and props. Add to that the fantastic and memorable songs and superb plot -- you could not ask for more. My mum enjoyed it as much as I did, and we both said we'd be happy to see it again at the end. There cannot be a better recommendation than that.
Also, in news for prayer and thanks: as the preview show we attended was to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Publicity Manager spoke a bit before-hand. If I recall correctly, 1 in 8 Australian women will hear the news, "You have breast cancer." Though some cause for thanks also: they believe, in 3 years, they may have a test for breast cancer that merely needs a breath exhaled from a woman -- operating much like a alcohol breath test I imagine. I imagine, given what I hear women must go through now, this is a great leap forward.