‘My Fair Lady’ is one of Venice Theatre’s best

Yet another wonderful set has been designed by resident set designer Tim Wisgerhof, who also portrays Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s father, and Lord Boxington.

That he sings and dances as well as he designs sets has been a bonus ever since he arrived at this theater after 12 years of designing display windows for Sax Fifth Avenue while also designing sets for several theaters in the Big Apple.

Once again, the Raymond Center set, on all four walls, envelopes the audience in the action.

Lighting designer John Michael Andzulis adds a touch of magic to the lamp lighter who lights the “gas” lights on the street where so much action takes place. He does it just before the show begins.

Once the play begins, there is a 90-minute first act and a 60-minute or so second act. Both seem to fly by as the large cast sings and dances its way through the streets of London, outside a pub, inside Prof. Higgins’ house, at Ascot Racetrack outside London and more.

That most cast members are portraying multiple characters and changing costumes quickly to portray those characters is as magical as the story.

There is an abundance of talent on this stage, with most performers playing multiple roles.

Caswell has won several awards for past area performances. As Higgins, he is deserving of more honors.

Jared Inman, who portrays Freddy Eynsfor Hill, a dancer and a busker, also serves as the show’s dance captain.

Sandy Kenny portrays Mrs. Higgins and ensemble roles. Colleen Tunney plays Mrs. Pearce plus ensemble roles. Seth Grayson portrays Jamie, Cockney Quartet, Hoxton man and a policeman.

Richard Mutkowski is in the Cockney Quartet and also portrays Dr. Stephanos and a policeman.

Anna Hunek seems to have the most roles: Busker, Servant, Flower Girl, Dancer and Mrs. Higgins’ Maid. Several costume changes occur, some more than once.

Eve Grissinger is a dancer, Mrs. Hopkins and Lady Boxington.

Stacy Gilson portrays a Busker, Bystander 1, Ambassador’s wife, Queen of Transylvania and even the role of Eliza (on Tuesday Feb. 25 and Saturday matinee on March 1).

Clint Alexander portrays a cockney man, Harry, Selsey Man and a servant.

Kudos to costume designer Ross Boehringer for so many wonderful costumes and to the dressers who somehow managed to keep everything running smoothly. Some people not only played multiple roles but also had to go in and out of some of those costumes more than once.

Earlier Venice Theatre productions of “My Fair Lady” were on the theater’s main stage, the one destroyed by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022 and still undergoing reconstruction for what has totaled more than $14 million in hurricane damages.

This production is in the 130-seat mainstage that was created within the theater’s Raymond Center just 55 days after that disaster. There is no stage house. There is only a low ceiling in the former office building yet Venice Theatre tech experts John Michael Andzulis and Nate Blaweiss and their teams managed to create a space that may be small but quite workable.

With the design expertise of Wisgerhof, the temporary space has been more than adequate for a vast array of fine mainstage shows. Venice Theater’s 90-seat Pinkerton Theatre was back in business with its special lineup of shows just a few months after Ian.

But the loss of 432 mainstage seats severely hurts the bottom line.

“My Fair Lady” was directed by Kristofer Geddie, who also is working full time as the theater’s managing director while also working on post-Ian reconstruction efforts. In addition to staff and crew already mentioned, the props designer was Lisa Million with sound by Nate Blaweiss, Jonathann Hunter as assistant director, choreography by Vanessa Russo and stage management by Aether Baskin.

Musicians include Emily Croome as conductor/keyboards and Natalia Van Genderen as Second Keys.

For tickets to “My Fair Lady,” which ends on March 2, call the box office at 941-488-1115 or visit venicetheatre.org.

To donate to the theater, visit venicetheatre.org/donate/