THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110026
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
NEW YORK ACTRESS Christa Germanson is not at a loss for ways to enter the character of Eliza Doolittle, the adorable cockney waif who turns into a refined socialite in ``My Fair Lady.''
Produced by Commonwealth Musical Stage, the show opens Friday at Virginia Beach Pavilion Theater. Germanson, who has the rags-to-riches role played by Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 film, has experienced a few extremes of circumstance herself.
``For any actor, one minute you can be in a television series making an enormous amount of money - which has happened to me - and then, the next minute, you are up against everybody in the entire theatrical world trying for a role. Back to ground zero.''
Yet another experience feeds her affinity to Eliza's hard cultural swing. In 1986 and again last year, the thirtysomething actress traveled with her missionary mother and stepfather to the mountainous northern region of Thailand, where impoverished refugees from Burma have set up villages. Germanson wanted to help garner support services for these people.
She recalled how, at each village, a formal introduction ritual would take place. The Burmese would sing for the American family that had come to help them. Then Germanson and her mother would perform for them, too.
``We sang songs and taught them little dances. Just my mom and me, singing duets.'' Germanson recalled a trade she made with a Burmese girl. The girl gave her a treasured pin from old Burma; Germanson gave her a sapphire ring her dad had given her.
Venturing across the globe to benefit others helps you keep your priorities in check, Germanson said. ``You remember where your center is - family, God, love.''
Back in New York, her life seemed so rich. Yet, compared with Broadway veterans - such as her leading man David Staller, who portrays Professor Henry Higgins - Germanson's success might seem moderate. Chowan seeks return of drama
In the late 1980s, she lived in Los Angeles and pursued television work; among her credits from that time are a recurring part as a secretary on the NBC soap ``Santa Barbara,'' and ``the mighty voice'' of SheRa on the Saturday morning cartoon ``Masters of the Universe.''
In 1991, she began seeking roles with regional theaters, such as Commonwealth Musical Stage.
``I think that the best theater in the country is going on at the regional theaters. For me, Broadway is very disappointing'' for its lack of classics and thought-provoking dramas, she said.
Meanwhile, Eliza Doolittle has evolved into one of Germanson's favorite characters. Derived from George Bernard Shaw's 1912 play ``Pygmalion,'' Lerner and Loewe's ``My Fair Lady'' ``is a musical with a lot of meat,'' she said. ``Eliza embodies the spectrum of the human experience. She has an innate intelligence and wit, a love of life and a desire to grow.'' MEMO: ON STAGE
What: ``My Fair Lady,'' produced by Commonwealth Musical Stage
Where: Virginia Beach Pavilion Theater
When: Performances at 8 p.m. Friday and April 19, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Saturday and April 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday and April 21.
Tickets: $15 to $30, adults; $7.50, youths and students.
Call: 340-5446 for reservations ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HUY NGUYEN, The Virginian-Pilot
Christa Germanson stars as Eliza Doolittle and David Staller plays
Professor Henry Higgins.
by CNB