<P>Matthew Bourne talks to Jenny Gilbert in the Independent about choreographing "My Fair Lady" for The National Theatre. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Does it worry him not to have the total control he's accustomed to? It did at first, he says, and he vowed it would be the last time he took a job like this. "In fact, I quite like serving someone else's ideas, but I'm concerned to make it look like me. I want something that properly represents me." So will people look at this show and say "Ah, that looks like Matthew Bourne's work"? Things are just starting to shape up rather nicely, he says, and he's willing to think people might.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P> <A HREF="http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Theatre/2001-03/barrow040301.shtml" TARGET=_blank>http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Theatre/2001-03/barrow040301.shtml</A> <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited March 06, 2001).]

There was an omnibus documentary last night on My Fair Lady and it showed quite a bit of rehearsal footage from the current London production and of Matthew Bourne at work.<P>He questioned his reputation of being avant garde as he said that basically he wants his work to be liked and to be popular.<P>Martine McCutcheon seemed to be shaping up well as Eliza and Jonathan Pryce is goin to "sing" the Higgins songs apparently.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>He questioned his reputation of being avant garde as he said that basically he wants his work to be liked and to be popular.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Gosh! Who is calling the talented Mr Bourne avant garde? Perhaps it's because he's made a 'Swan Lake' that is more modern dance than <BR>ballet. But the label seems entirely innappropriate for his accessible, entertaining work.

I did think that too Stuart - one of the things I found with Swan Lake was how he drew from popular culture to make the ballet more accessible, i.e the ball set in a discoteque.<P>That was not a direct quote from the documentary - I paraphrased it - I think the gist was that he is mainly known for male swans - people see that as a different interpretation on the classic Swan Lake and may presume that he would therefore treat My Fair Lady in the same way. From the article you mention above it seems that he tried to be original with the Ascot Gavotte - but with other musical numbers he has tried to make them more naturalistic, i.e. put them in situations where song and dance would naturally occur. The article above mentions With a Little Bit of Luck being in a pub setting. They showed this in rehearsal in the documentary and it did work well - the number turning into a pub sing-song. <P>Avant-garde no - but making us look at the staging of ballet and musicals differently I think is something he can be credited with.

By Jove he's nearly got it - Jonathan Pryce tells Valerie Grove about his all-singing, almost-dancing plans for ’Enry ’Iggins. A bit tangential to dance, but he's an interesting performer. <P> <A HREF="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,149-97387,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,149-97387,00.html</A>

Hmm, will this production travel I wonder?

I suspect so if it work well. The National Theatre justifiably defends its right to put on popular work as well as the obscure and all points in between. However, some of their musical do make a lot of money when they transfer to London's West End and beyond. Remember that the original production of 'Les Mis' was at the National and is probably still a nice little earner.

The entire run of My Fair Lady at the National is sold out. I for one hope it transfers as I haven't got tickets!!<P>Wasn't last night opening night or press night and wasn't martine McCutcheon rumoured to have flu? Does anyone know what happened?<BR>

<BR>London falls in love with 'My Fair Lady' all over again:<P><BR>Benedict Nightingale in the Times tells us that 'M Fair Lady' is a hit - big time:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>But let me report that what we get at the National, thanks almost as much to Matthew Bourne’s brilliant choreography as to Nunn’s adroit direction, is an evening that doesn’t just look, sound and feel right — but is as eloquent as the original about the superficiality and folly of class divisions.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <P> <A HREF="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-100292,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-100292,00.html</A> <P><BR>Michael Billington is also impressed with the dance sequences:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Best of all is Matthew Bourne's inventive staging of the big numbers. With a Little Bit of Luck becomes a tipsy cockney bacchanal, led by Dennis Waterman's ebullient Doolittle, that starts in a smoky pub and ends on the street outside with dustbin lids attached to the dancers' feet.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <P> <A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4153804,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4153804,00.html</A> <P>RHODA KOENIG in The Independent enjoys the show but is not keen on some of Matthew Bourne's dances.<P> <A HREF="http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=010317000687&query=My+Fair+Lady" TARGET=_blank>http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=010317000687&query=My+Fair+Lady</A> <P>And as a result of all the publicity we get,<P>'My cultural life: Matthew Bourne <P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>The choreographer Matthew Bourne is impressed by Macaulay Culkin, laments the stagnation of classical dance, is a huge fan of EastEnders but dislikes Popstars (TV programmes for non UK readers).'<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <A HREF="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,342-98353,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,342-98353,00.html</A> <P>

I've combined a couple of topics:<P> <P>Joanne reminded us that the director of 'My Fair Lady' Trevor Nunn also directed the successful revival of 'Oklahoma'.<P>Here is the link to the NT website with some details about the production. <P> <A HREF="http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/rd/myfairlady0301.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/rd/myfairlady0301.html</A> <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited March 17, 2001).]