Singing two of the greatest songs in musical theatre history
Playing Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer is a return to a place very dear to Gary Milner.
Gary, who was brought up in Worthing, did a season in rep at the theatre back in the early 2000s: “I did a season with Stephen Pimlott which was just incredible. It was a six-month stint but it was like three years of learning. I did three main shows and a radio play and a promenade performance, and I was so lucky to have that chance, to be able to watch and to be part of it.”
Gary was Tackaberry in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, also appeared in 5/11 on the main-house stage and was Eluad/GI in Lee Miller in the Minerva.
“I would say that it was formative in my career. Someone said to me ‘I can tell that you have done rep because you are a self-policing actor.’”
It's about knowing where to stand, about having the technique and the awareness: “You don't necessarily have time in a rep season to think about everything so it's a responsibility that you take on yourself. And I loved the main theatre. I used to spend a lot of time in the voms watching the play that I was in. I remember watching a fantastic actor called Hugh Ross, And I absolutely studied him. I learnt so much from just watching him. And also seeing David Warner in King Lear. It was free training. It was free education.”
In between times Gary returned in The Music Man. Now he is back as Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady, running until Saturday, September 5.
“He is right in my wheelhouse. He is a force of nature. He really is. He is the loudest voice in the community. He knows what he is talking about and advocates mostly for himself! He makes sure that he is alright but also he looks after his people. It is such a gorgeous part to play, and I get two of the best songs in musical theatre history.
“Somebody was saying to me that I'm Getting Married In The Morning is such an earworm and it is. But as soon as I start singing it, as soon as the opening line, I can see people's faces light up. It is a real joy for them before I even start the song. And the other song is With A Little Bit Of Luck. It's just such great fun. And I've been given a fair bit of licence to have a bit of fun with the audience as well.
“Really for me this is just utopia. I'm here in Chichester. I can have a swim. I'm in a great musical. I can be a bit of a cheeky chappie. It is just great fun.”