My Fair Lady Kelty Musical Association, Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline ____________________ My Fair Lady was never the Press"s favourite musical.

The story of Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle"s transformation from gutter-tongued wretch into a fragrantly-spoken Lady was just a little too formal and too light, even by the traditionally frivolous standards of the genre.

For many audiences it lacks the giddy boisterousness of the likes of Calamity Jane or Guys and Dolls, with too much dialogue and not enough drama.

But after witnessing Kelty Musical Association's take on it, it"s hard not to reconsider this classic.

Director/choregrapher Lynne Donaldson and her cast nailed it.

Kevin Reid"s Professor Higgins, who painstakingly teaches Eliza the fundamentals of the Queen"s English, was as convincing as it gets.

His onstage chemistry with fellow 'confirmed batchelor' Colonel Pickering (Robin Cook) and housekeeper Mrs Pearce (Joyce Clark) meant pivotal scenes were performed with a humour and economy you might not expect from an amateur musical company.

Fiona Mitchell shines as Eliza. She knew when to play it for laughs (of which there were many, particulary in scenes shared with Mrs Higgins, played wonderfully by Pamela Henderson) and when to pull on the heart strings.

Her sad and remote expression as Higgins and Pickering congratulated each other after her erudite performance at a ball attended by Europe"s great and good was moving stuff.

Musical numbers were, of course, the highlight. I Could Have Danced All Night, A Hymn to Him and On The Street Where You Live were great fun and elevated further by a solid orchestra.

It"s easy to forget the hours of relentless rehearsals put in by cast members and backstage staff, particularly after witnessing such a flawless and entertaining show.

Next year the cast tackle West Side Story. You can"t imagine them putting a foot wrong.