Part of the September season of UnWrapped at the Sydney Opera House, Class Act is an exploration of class and social standing through the deconstruction of the classic 1964 film My Fair Lady, combined with personal anecdotes. Created by Melbourne-based, experimental art organisation, APHIDS, and staring Mish Grigor in the lead role, the performance opens with the start of My Fair Lady. We see Grigor adopt the role of poverty stricken Eliza, while dancer Alice Dixon plays the role of the posh Professor Henry Higgins.
As the story progresses, tales from Grigor’s real life growing up in Western Sydney intersect with the well known tale. These are both hilarious and relatable. Moments from Eliza’s transition into the upper classes of London are juxtaposed against the performers life in a way that is clever and topical. In particular, the story of when Grigor spends Christmas with her family at Wet’n’Wild water park, having recently returned from London, is particularly poignant. Many people could relate to that feeling of having outgrown your own family. That sense of no longer belonging where you came from or being able to identify with the people around you.
Directed by Zoey Dawson, it was clear that Class Act was intended to be a social commentary of class, social mobility and the class system as a whole, however there were times this messaging became lost. Laugh out loud moments were overshadowed by periods of silence when the audience was unsure of how to respond. Some moments, specifically the song about being made posh, went on for far too long and with no real clear reason as to why.
It is made obvious in parts that Grigor has great comedic timing, especially when recounting stories from her own life and interacting with the audience. These moments felt more organic and were some of the funniest.
The connections between the story of My Fair Lady and Grigor’s personal anecdotes could have been stronger to really solidify the purpose and meaning underpinning the performance. The foundation and ideas behind the production are solid, however something was lost a little in translation. Both Grigor and Dixon are incredibly talented performers, and while there was a lot to like about Class Act, on the whole it just missed the mark.
TWO AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Class Act is playing at the Sydney Opera House until 31 August 2024. For more information and to purchase tickets head to the Sydney Opera House website.
Reviewer attended on 28 August 2024.
Photos: Yael Stempler
