I came across a production of My Fair Lady by the Asian American Theater Project from a YouTube email I received over the weekend.  With a predominantly Asian cast, the production apparently has an interesting twist as it not only examines the “classism” between a middle class Professor Henry Higgins, lower class Eliza Dolittle and their interaction with upper class society, but also how Professor Higgins’ race (the actor describes Higgins as a “5’7″ Asian guy who is living in upper class British society”) and class affects his relationship with the rest of the characters.  In other words, this is not a production where you just cast actors based on talent, regardless of his/her ethnic background and just let the audiences’ imaginations run (think various stage productions of Les Miserables where you have a white actress play Young Eponine, but a black actress is teen Eponine or a 1990s revival of The Sound of Music where Captain von Trapp’s kids resemble Brad and Angelina’s).

The video says that Eliza transforms from being very “Asian” as a cockney-speaking flower girl to very “Westernized” once she nails the “proper” accent – perhaps exaggeratedly so.  This is an interesting twist to the more “standard” production where only class is examined.  If I recall correctly, at least one of the characters comments on how extremely proper Eliza is, and that that there’s no way she could REALLY be one of “them” and that’s when people become suspicious of her.

I can’t really say whether I like the production or whether the cast and crew did a good job challenging people to think.  I didn’t see the show, after all.  However, I like how both class and ethnicity are examined in the production, and how “class,” at least to many East Asian communities is related to how “westernized” one is.  Think about the requirements of a proper “Tiger Child” that includes western classical music lessons, “acceptable” sports like tennis, swimming and (perhaps) golf, in addition to excellent grades and entry to good schools  (of course, a proper “Tiger Child” is also expected to NOT become TOO westernized and to always retain traditions such as respect for elders, knowing his/her culture and, ideally, language as well).  I say East Asian communities as this is based on personal experience.

Honestly, I wish there are more productions like this.  Producing a well-known and loved musical without just using it as inspiration (and therefore creating something completely NEW) is a great way to examine topics with a different point of view.  I’ve seen it hinted at the professional level (e.g. Asian “Ellen” (the American wife) in Miss Saigon), but have yet to see any show, professional or not, interpreted this way.