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TAUNTON - So, what do you do if you starred as an unforgettable Harold Hill in Star Players of Bristol County's amazing production of "The Music Man" last August?

Well, if you are North Attleboro's Gary Poholek you return as, perhaps, an even BIGGER lead in another classic musical with the same impeccable group and hope to match your success and, maybe even top it.

Poholek - an actor, singer, director and scene designer with few local peers - will play the snooty British linguist Henry Higgins in Star Players' production of "My Fair Lady" which runs Aug. 8-17 at Friedman Middle School, 500 Norton Ave., Taunton.

Poholek's foil, Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl who dreams of owning her own flower shop by improving her diction and becoming a lady, will be played by Lorna Jane Norris of Pembroke, who has the added advantage of being born and raised in England.

Norris has a Masters in English from Liverpool University and a degree from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge (England). She has won many national singing awards. Poholek's resume is equally impressive. A graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, he has performed lead roles for Actors' Collaborative, Norton Singers, Company Theatre, Attleboro Community Theatre, Star Players and many, many more.

"My Fair Lady" follows the character of Doolittle in 1912 London as she falls under Higgins' academic wing. A domineering phonetics professor, Higgins makes a bet that by correcting Eliza's Cockney speech patterns, he can pass her off as a duchess in a matter of months. Of course, romantic complications ensue, as they struggle with the daunting task of turning Doolittle into a lady. So, with this Higgins from Mass. and Eliza from London, who will be given whom the real diction lessons? Here is what Poholek had to say:

JAMIE MEROLLA: How does it feel to be back with Star Players after last summer's terrific "Music Man?"

GARY POHOLEK: I am excited to return to Star Players. Hard to believe a year has passed since "The Music Man."

MEROLLA: What do you think of Joel Thayer and the group?

POHOLEK: I think Joel Thayer is a genius in his own right. He is a renaissance man, organizing, directing, designing the scenery, and overseeing every aspect of the production. The group is very professional, well organized, and upholds a high standard for excellence.

MEROLLA: Have you played Henry Higgins before (as you did Professor Harold Hill) elsewhere?

POHOLEK: Yes. I have played Higgins twice before for Actors' Collaborative, the most recent performance at the Foxboro Orpheum), but this will be a new and very different production.

MEROLLA: But years have passed. How do you approach the role now?

POHOLEK: I am approaching the role in a different way for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that being older than I was when I first played Higgins gives me a whole new perspective on the character. Also, I am working with different directors who have a unique vision of the piece and different actors with their own interpretations.

MEROLLA: Are you taking diction lessons so no hint of a Mass. accent will seep through? I mean, the co-star is from England; can't have the Eliza outshine the Higgins in diction.

POHOLEK: Lorna has helped me with proper pronunciation - Talk about a role reversal! The flower girl in this case is teaching the professor (at least behind the scenes)!

MEROLLA: What do you think patrons will come away most impressed with?

POHOLEK: I think anyone who has seen a Star Players' production will agree the production values are outstanding, and this show is no exception. The scenery, costumes, lighting, and orchestra are top notch. No detail is overlooked.

Star Players' production of "My Fair Lady" runs Aug. 8-17. Tickets go fast, so call the box office at 508-821-2524 or place your order online at www.StarPlayersBC.org.