My Fair Lady by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe is lauded for its witty dialogue, memorable songs, and strong performances, particularly in the role of Eliza Doolittle. Critics praise the musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play, but some feel it occasionally oversimplifies the original themes. Overall, it remains a timeless and charming classic.

Readers who enjoy classic musicals, transformative stories, and nuanced character development will appreciate My Fair Lady. Fans of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, on which it is based, or Les Misérables for its intricate blend of music and narrative, will find this work compelling.

My Fair Lady follows Cockney flower-seller Eliza Doolittle, who undergoes speech lessons from linguistics professor Henry Higgins to pass as nobility, highlighting class and gender disparities; despite succeeding at an Embassy Ball, Eliza feels unappreciated and leaves, but Higgins later acknowledges her impact on his life, leading to an uncertain reconciliation.

Romantic / Playful / Humorous / Bittersweet / Inspirational

- My Fair Lady made Broadway history by becoming the longest-running musical of its time after opening in 1956, boasting 2,717 performances over six and a half years.
- The musical's original cast album was a major success, spending 480 weeks on the Billboard charts and becoming the best-selling album of 1956 in the United States.
- Julie Andrews, who played Eliza Doolittle in the original Broadway production, was initially a surprising choice for the role as she was relatively unknown in the United States at the time.

**Eliza Doolittle**  
A young flower seller from Covent Garden with a strong Cockney accent, who seeks speech lessons from Professor Higgins and becomes the subject of a social experiment.  

**Henry Higgins**  
A linguistics professor passionate about the study of language, who takes on the task of transforming Eliza's speech and manners to prove his point about social class.  

**Colonel Pickering**  
A fellow linguistics scholar and kind gentleman, who collaborates with Higgins on Eliza's transformation and generally treats her with respect and dignity.  

**Freddy Eynsford-Hill**  
A young gentleman from an aristocratic background, who becomes infatuated with Eliza and admires her authenticity and spirit.  

**Mrs. Higgins**  
Henry Higgins's perceptive and witty mother, who offers keen insights on the experiment with Eliza and provides her own support and perspectives.  

**Alfred Doolittle**  
Eliza's father, known for his carefree attitude toward life as a dustman, who comes into unexpected wealth through a stroke of fortune.  

**Zoltan Karpathy**  
Higgins's former student, known for his expertise in linguistics and uncanny ability to identify imposters among high society.

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Frederick Loewe

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