By George! I Think She's Got It

The drama surrounding the new production of My Fair Lady at Britain's Royal National Theatre would make a terrific musical. It's a twisting tale with all the ingredients for a ripping three-acter.

Act One: The Controversy. The National's artistic director Trevor Nunn announces that his publicly funded ($18.5 million this year) theater will present an all-star revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's classic 1956 musical in collaboration with heavyweight commercial producer Cameron Mackintosh (the architect of Nunn-directed hits like Cats). The deal is that Mackintosh will be co-producer in return for the right to transfer...