Review By Cynthia Terry, Front Row Reviewers
Salem Community Theater performs My Fair Lady at Salem Hills High School, where the audience is welcomed into a large auditorium with upbeat, classic music playing to set the mood. From the first scene, chuckles already break out amongst the crowd, reacting to the charming personalities the actors bring to their characters. Based on George Bernard Shaw‘s play Pygmalion, My Fair Lady tells the story of how it is possible to become your best self, with a little help from your friends.
A huge shout-out goes to our star, Amber Roberts who plays Eliza Doolittle. With such a transformative role, Roberts is clearly in touch with the heart of her character. Eliza is a bold, outspoken woman with a loud, grating Cockney accent in a role that walks a fine line between being vibrant and being too much. It would be easy to push the performance too far and lose the audience’s sympathy. However, Roberts strikes the perfect balance. She plays Eliza with strength, humor, and just the right amount of exaggeration, keeping the character authentic and likable without ever crossing into overacting. In addition to her remarkable acting skills, she offers powerful vocals that fill the entire auditorium, and then treats us to an emotional shift, which moves the story from being purely entertaining into a more meaningful direction.
Craig Gardner as Professor Henry Higgins speaks with clear diction—perfectly in line with his proper, rather uptight character. Whether singing or speaking, he delivers each line with expert timing and clarity, allowing the audience to take in the full essence of his complex personality. He is a brilliant professor of phonetics, but has no savvy about how to deal with humans, especially women. What stands out about Gardner’s performance is his ability to portray a character who originally seems content with who he is, until faced with somebody who challenges him to become something more. It’s difficult on a large stage to effectively bring the audience into an internal dilemma, but Gardner has us feeling every frustration his character experiences as he works his way through self-discovery and love.
The most enjoyable moment for me was the training montage when Henry Higgins is trying to teach flower seller Eliza how to leave behind her Cockney accent to speak like a proper lady. I especially loved the scene where Higgins is training Eliza to speak clearly by requiring her to put marbles in her mouth. Roberts’ reaction when she swallows a marble is believable and adds to Higgins’ exasperation, creating an additional seasoning of humor. Higgins’ house staff further isolate Eliza with their lack of caring toward her and their obvious boredom with this experiment.
I found myself being drawn to the character, Colonel Pickering, Henry’s close friend who is delighted to be part of this proposed transformation. BJ Harrison makes the audience feel comfortable, like we have an advocate in him. I loved how he plays well off of Gardner, showing a fun and respectful relationship between the two men. Their personalities are distinctly different, yet they work well together as a cohesive and friendly team. I especially enjoyed Harrison’s storytelling talent, particularly when he tells Henry’s mother, Mrs.Higgins about Eliza for the first time.
Casey Lee enters as Eliza’s father Alfred P. Doolittle and connects easily with the audience exuberantly as he sings directly to us. His heavy Cockney accent is spot on even when he begins to sing and dance. It’s not just his delightful number, “With a Li’l Bit o’ Luck” that makes me adore Alfred’s hilarious character. Lee brings every ounce of talent he has and throws it into the audience so we can share in the light-hearted joy that we so much need in our lives.
Michael Pulsipher plays Freddy Eynsford-Hill as a true hopeless romantic with a smooth yet bold voice, especially in “On the Street Where You Live.” He owns the role with such charm and presence that I couldn’t stop smiling whenever he was on stage. He brings a warmth and likability that makes Freddy feel bigger than the part itself.
Alongside Pulsipher, I am happy to note several additional standout performers who bring more to their roles than the script required. Mary Hansen (Mrs. Higgins, Selsey Woman) shines with a soft-spoken, motherly voice paired with surprising spunk at key moments. And Lindsey Stiborek as Higgins’ housekeeper Mrs. Pearce offers an authentic and endearing performance, making her firm but deeply likable.
Tina Turner (Lady Boxington, Mrs. Hopkins, Street Seller) shows impressive range, fully committing to each of her roles with confidence, versatility, and flair. Marc Owens as Professor Zoltan Karpathy (the Hungarian) earns laughs nearly as big as his mustache, owning every moment of his noble appearance.
Each ensemble member brings a unique and exciting personality to the stage. It’s clear by their larger-than-life expressions that they love what they are doing. With their sweet harmonies and energetic dancing, they turn every moment into a memory worth holding on to.
Director Marcus Williams brings the show’s deeper themes to life through intentional timing and well-crafted blocking. His direction allows relationships to evolve naturally, using movement, pacing, and subtle interactions to show the characters’ growth and shifting dynamics. The result is a story that feels both emotionally grounded and visually thoughtful.
Gabe Lee enhances each character with his exceptional musical directing. The fast-paced lyrics and challenging vocal numbers add classic fun to the stage and brings me back to my childhood, singing these songs around the piano with my family. I couldn’t help but sing along. And the choreography by Goldie Harrison made me want to “dance all night” with the high-energy party on the stage.
Costumes by Colton Simons, Kaislyn Spencer, and Williams help define each character while honoring the time period. I especially loved the formal dresses during the ball. I want all of them in my own closet at home. I also loved the elaborate hat designs by Kristin Jenkins. Julie Hancock, Jenkins, Roberts, and Simons also do a fantastic job with hair and makeup that suit both elegance and personality. Lighting by Jayden Pauly adds to the charm of the show, especially during the black and white horse race scene. The sound design by Williams and Bruce Holt keeps things moving clearly, making sure the audience can understand the quick line delivery. Set design by Williams and Miranda Webster supports the large-scale transitions and big musical numbers. The large set pops with tasteful colors and beautiful backdrops, submersing the audience in this time-honored story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this production. I grew up loving the film and Salem Community Theater brought me back to my childhood. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that there is some soft adult language and themes that feel geared more toward older audiences.
Before arriving at the theater, I spoke to a family member about how essential it is for My Fair Lady to have a powerful cast. Without sharp delivery and clear diction, the intricate language of the script can easily become jumbled, and the humor can get lost. While the storyline is fairly simple—centering on a poor flower girl who is taught to rise above her class—it’s the talented performers at Salem Community Theater who transform a straightforward plot into a unique and joyful journey.
This nostalgic musical draws attention to the challenges of managing the human desires for belonging and love, no matter our background or class. My Fair Lady is a beautiful reminder that our circumstances don’t define us, our actions and efforts do. I love how each character grows and has to adapt to a different reality than they are used to—the bachelor discovering he needs someone to love, the poor flower girl learning that she is more capable than she realized, the hopeless romantic learning that he needs to take action instead of just waiting on the doorstep. Every one of us has a journey of growth ahead of us, and it is completely possible to rise to the occasion if we put our hearts and minds into it.
Salem Community Theater presents My Fair Lady by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.
Salem Hills High School, 150 N Skyhawk Blvd, Salem, UT 84653
July 31 – August 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM, Matinee: August 9, 2025
Tickets $8.00, Adult $12.00
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