Becoming Eliza
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When you get a glowing endorsement from Dame Julie Andrews then you must be doing something right. And Anna O’Byrne did and is. Her delightful new one-woman show, Becoming Eliza, is part memoir, part homage, with Dame Julie herself at the very centre, pulling the parts together.
O’Byrne gained the coveted lead role of Eliza Doolittle in Opera Australia’s 60th Anniversary production of My Fair Lady in 2016. What made that even more special was that Julie Andrews – who debuted the role on Broadway and is an indisputable legend – directed the show. Now, six years later, O’Byrne has written and is about to perform a cabaret-style show based on her experience.
Becoming Eliza is a warm-hearted, loving tribute to Andrews, whom O’Byrne regards as her idol. In the show, O’Byrne candidly shares her fears and apprehension about stepping into a role made famous by one of the most adored artists in the world, with said artist in the same room!
Her humorous, honest, anecdotes are interspersed with a few of her favourite songs (wink) from Andrews’ exhaustive repertoire.
“Being directed by Dame Julie Andrews in the iconic role she made famous was an experience beyond anything I could have dreamed. Julie showed me such warmth, wisdom, wit, and above all, generosity of spirit. It is a little of this spirit which I hope to share with the audiences of Becoming Eliza,” says O’Byrne.
O’Byrne is a celebrated soprano and has won and been nominated for a number of prestigious awards. She has played many of the iconic musical theatre lead roles and has performed on stage and in film. Her new show has the imprimatur of Dame Julie herself: “Becoming Eliza is a tour de force. Don’t miss it! It will warm your heart.”
June 9 – 12, 7pm (Sunday 5pm); tickets from $49 plus BF; Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney.
