The new cast of My Fair Lady took a bow at Drury Lane on May 20.

A new cast of leading characters (except for the role of Eliza, which continues to be played by Joanna Riding), headed by Alex Jennings as Professor Henry Higgins and Malcolm Sinclair as his friend Colonel Pickering, took their curtain calls to a packed house and in front of the eyes of the theatre press corps on May 20.

Alex Jennings is renowned as one of the National Theatre's best actors and stunned the audience with his West End musical debut, giving a phenomenal interpretation and making the role his own. Malcolm Sinclair, who won critical praise for his recent performance as another crusty army officer in the Donmar's revival of Privates On Parade, gave a classy performance in a supporting role. Joanna Riding was superb in her rendition of Eliza and has cleverly developed the role's comic potential. All in all, this cast made it feel like it was "the" first night.

They now head a re-invigorated production of this hugely popular musical, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, which triumphed at the National and then transferred to Drury Lane.

—By Paul Webb Theatrenow