Director Stan Coe puts his players through their paces in the musical number “I’m Getting Married in the Morning” for the upcoming production of My Fair Lady. The lights have been adjusted, the sets and props secured, and final touches are being made on costumes for the Washington Little Theater’s spring performance of My Fair Lady, a show that has been delighting audiences for nearly a century and as a musical since it was first performed on Broadway in 1956.

Perhaps one of the reasons the play has such lasting appeal is that it contains everything theater goers love: a touching story that is both poignant and at times hillarious and bawdy, memorable music and lyrics, lots of dancing, shades of conflict and romance, and a touch of intrigue.

“At this point, it is so much fun, despite all the work involved, to see all of the characters really getting into their roles and becoming the characters that they’re playing ,” director Stan Coe said, emphasizing that he wasn’t just referring to the lead characters. “Everyone is adding those little touches and flairs that bring the scenes alive, whether the character is a hoiti-toiti snob at the race track or a street vendor, a wench in the pub or a bloke on the loading docks. They all add little aspects to their portrayal that makes it real for the audience,” he said.

Anyone watching the rehersals of some of the dance numbers can appreciate the dedication of the cast members as they sing and dance their way through some of the more lively scenes under the direction of Judi Schifner-Johnson who has put many, many hours into the choreography.

Another entertaining aspect of rehearsals has been how Sara Dunavan guides the “action” of a costume. “Ladies, let your hat talk for you. You don’t have any lines to say here, your costume has to make the statement!” she says, turning to add, “You there, young men, straighten your posture, fix your expression. Let your walking do the talking! Stiff, smug: remember, you’re British!” It’s almost as if the spirit of Bolton Lunceford is alive and well through the aegis of “Miss Sara.”

A spouse of one actress who was helping on the sets and listening to the dialogue on stage mentioned how he’d so enjoyed the “Southern Yiddish” in Fiddler On The Roof. He remarked that “this ‘Southern British’ is even more delicious!”

See and hear for yourself at one of the five performances of My Fair Lady on April 2, 3, 9, and 10 at 8 p.m. or the Sunday matinee on April 11 at 3 p.m. at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse.