Most people know the highly recognisable line by everybody’s favourite Eliza Doolittle,“ The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”
This year is the 60th Anniversary of My Fair Lady and Bay News Of The Area wishes to have it’s readers know that we have our very own “My Fair Lady” living here in Shoal Bay.
Shoal Bay resident Rosalind Ashton was in the original Australian production of the show at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1960 and is excited to be attending the 60th Anniversary show.
Dame Julie Andrews, Broadways original Eliza Doolittle, directed the anniversary production of Lerner & Loewe’s classic My Fair Lady to the delight of Australian and International audiences.
Ms Ashton and partner Graham Standen will attend Wednesday night’s performance of the show which is now in its final weeks at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House.
In honour of Ms Ashton being in the original cast, she will be invited backstage to meet the cast of the 2016 production.
Rosalind Ashton performed as a singer in the original production, as well as acting as understudy for various roles including the role of Eliza Doolittle.
55 years on, Ms Ashton remembers her audition at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney when she sang ‘Summertime’ from the 1935 Opera Porgy and Bess.
“I had to sing on a huge stage in front of only 3 people in the large theatre, I remember it as if it was yesterday,” Rosalind Ashton told Bay News Of The Area.
Rosalind remembers the costumes of My Fair Lady, as they channelled Broadways beautiful originals bringing the stage alive with their brilliance.
“The most famous and most memorable scene in My Fair Lady was the Ascot Races where all the cast wore black and white,” Ms Ashton said.
“I am looking forward to seeing the show from an audience perspective rather than on stage as a performer,” Rosalind said.
Ms Ashton went on to have an acting and modelling career after her performance in the show.
Rosalind Ashton, originally born in Sydney, moved with her partner Graham to Shoal Bay 13 years ago from Coogee.
By Jewell DRURY
