UA theater professor teaches dialect to cast of 'My Fair Lady'

Photo courtesy of Tim Fuller

Kate Fisher stars in "My Fair Lady" as Eliza Doolittle. The Arizona Theatre Company production of Lerner and Loewe's famous play will be on stage at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson through Dec. 16.

"My Fair Lady" is at the top of the work wish list for a majority of dialect coaches, according to a member of UA's theatre arts faculty.

University of Arizona professor of theatre arts and current dialect coach for Arizona Theatre Company's production of "My Fair Lady," Dianne J. Winslow, is now able to check this play off her list.

"It's really invigorating," Winslow said. "Every dialect coach wants to work on 'My Fair Lady,' (because) it does deal with the very issues that you've made a career of - language and how language teaches us who we are and how we think. It's absolutely delightful to explore."

As the dialect coach for this performance, Winslow taught the performers to speak in Cockney. She said this dialect is one of four vital accents all theatrical performers learn - and one that Winslow said she first learned in her childhood.

"I didn't see a television until I was 5 or 6 years old," she said. "All we had was a stereo and Broadway show albums (and) I distinctly remember listening to the 'My Fair Lady' soundtrack - the memory is so vivid in my mind."

Winslow added that after hearing the soundtrack as a child she went on to study it, perform it and later teach the dialect.

"(There is) great variation in every dialect - that's what draws me to the work," she said. "It's very engaging for me to have the opportunity to be spontaneous in how I teach - that's pretty invigorating - for a teacher (to find) new challenges and techniques."

Winslow added that she has been working the cast of "My Fair Lady" for the past four weeks.

"(For) this production I began with a discussion with the director - a conceptual discussion - about what he wanted to accomplish dialectically and how that served his concept and the themes of the production, and then I met individually with the actors in private tutorials," Winslow said.

She added that beyond conducting one-on-one tutorials with the performers, she also worked with a chorus on both Cockney and standard British dialects.

"I was working with a collective of about eight actors and actresses, teaching (them) to have a common sound," she said.

Musical theater junior Joshua Lamoreaux, male swing understudy for four roles in the play, is gifted with the ability to copy dialects and said the other actors share his talent.

"I realize that dialects are difficult for most people and that I have a special talent. With the amount of talent in 'My Fair Lady,' it came quite easily to the other actors too, probably because they had the same ear for it as I did. They had minor corrections the dialect coach gave them, but other than that, it was quite easy. Otherwise they probably wouldn't have gotten hired."

Winslow added that when teaching the performers to sing in the Cockney dialect, slight adjustments had to be made.

"With a Cockney dialect, it is challenging to be intelligible and (believable) while sustaining notes and having music play underneath you at the same time," she said.

She added that when her coaching is almost complete she attends rehearsals and performances to determine whether the performers' dialects are clear.

"I attend (rehearsals) and see how the actor or actress (is) transferring the work to the character - how it (is) related to dance, character intention and the story we (are) trying to tell," she said.

Winslow added that "My Fair Lady" involves more than just contrasting dialects.

"It (is) incredibly vital and (has) a wonderful balance of contrasting characters (and) social stations," she said. "It (is) so orally rich - you (are) hearing these working-class Cockney dialects contrasted back to back with these upper-crust, pinched dialects."

She added that the combination of wit and comedy, along with a philosophical approach to language, makes the play exceptional.

"('My Fair Lady' encompasses) a very broad combination of theatrical qualities and values - (it is) a veritable feast of language," Winslow said.

Apparently Winslow is not the only one to think so highly of this musical. According to a press release, "My Fair Lady" is the "queen of all romantic musicals."

"Gorgeous sets, scores of exquisite costumes and delicious performances from some of the country's top musical theatre talents add up to an unforgettable treat for the whole family to enjoy," a press release stated.

"My Fair Lady" is now playing at the ATC, 330 S. Scott Ave. The show runs through Dec. 15. Ticket prices vary; student discounts are available with a valid student ID. For more information, call the ATC Box Office at 622-2823.