In the Guthrie's 'My Fair Lady,' a challenge to get cockney accent right

Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
"My Fair Lady" is a musical about talking. It's about class, and how the words we use -- and the way we use them -- signal who we are.
In the Guthrie Theater's production, Jeff McCarthy, an American-born actor, was chosen for the role of Henry Higgins, a very proper English professor. The Guthrie's voice coach had his work cut out for him.
D'Arcy Smith is the resident voice coach at the Guthrie Theater and a lecturer at the University of Minnesota. He taught the show's actors the various dialects that are so essential to "My Fair Lady."
On The Daily Circuit, he discussed the art of coaching people to speak in other dialects:
Helen Anker, who plays Eliza Doolittle, showed us the differences between how cockney actually sounds compared to the way they use it on stage:
"My Fair Lady" runs through August 31.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.