The Incomparable Rex

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

A revealing but not particularly “delightful” look into the world behind the curtain, centered around the star of My Fair Lady, Rex Harrison. Garland, who directed Harrison in the American revival of the musical in the mid-seventies, seems to see reminiscing about the production as a fine opportunity to collect his memories of the man he considered a friend as well as a great artist, and perhaps to demonstrate why he remained so attractive to many in spite of his irascibility. But much of Harrison's in-person charm is lost when we are confronted with his bald words upon the page, divorced from his finely modulated voice and manners. He comes across as insensitive, boorish, and even cruel. One of his ex-wives (he had five, plus a current model) commits suicide during the tour and he appears largely unmoved. His treatment of his own son – which took even Garland aback – is horrible. Off the stage, intermingled with Wildean quips he spews a constant stream of profanity; his nickname for My Fair Lady is “F*** the Music.”

This attitude also demonstrates his contempt for any artists involved with a production other than himself. Challenged by his own lack of singing skills, his “speech singing” became a brilliant and very suitable expression of the character of Henry Higgins, which largely contributed to his success in the role. But it IS an eminently musical show, and he had no respect for music or for singers. He ignored the long-suffering conductor's requests for Harrison to follow him, demanding that he lead and the orchestra follow. He sank the revival production because when his co-star playing Eliza became overwhelmed by the vocal demands of the score, he refused to allow an understudy to take over. When forced by the crisis to do so, played so coldly to her that she ended up prostrate in her dressing room after the preview performance attended by the New York critics. I suspect that he feared being upstaged by any talent that might have proved to be greater than his own, and used these antics to keep other actors in their place.

I'm sure such attitudes and practices are not uncommon among stage folk, and so Garland's record allows us to see a side of show business that is not at all glamorous. But it left me sad, and wondering why Harrison became such a dreadful person – a question not addressed in this particular book.