"My Fair Lady" enchants at San Francisco Playhouse
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The ensemble of "My Fair Lady" brings the streets of London to life. Photo: Jessica Palopoli
Fans of musical theater are in for a real treat: "My Fair Lady" has landed at the San Francisco Playhouse.
Why it matters: The theater company is ending on a crowd favorite for the last show of the 2025 season. Devotees of the 1964 Audrey Hepburn film won't be disappointed.
State of play: The musical's leads are all standouts. Adam Magill is a triumph as Henry Higgins and Jillian A. Smith brings a soaring voice and beautiful fragility as Eliza Dolittle.
- Don't sleep on the supporting cast — I could've watched Heather Orth deliver the withering glances of Henry Higgins' housekeeper Mrs. Pearce all night.
Between the lines: Both the film and musical run for nearly three hours, but the Playhouse production is as well-paced as an Ascot race horse.
- The show hews closely to the film in keeping many beloved set pieces — such as the masterfully choreographed street-sweeper dance sequences and famous race scene, complete with elaborate monochrome costumes.
My thought bubble: As an Aussie in America, I've heard my fair share of mangled Commonwealth accents onstage. But the cast largely passed the test of capturing London's varied accents, thanks to the production's dialect coaches. I was especially impressed by Eliza's elocutionary glow-up by Act II.
If you go: Running now until September 13, with performances Tuesday through Sunday at 450 Post St. Tickets start at $52.