Pygmalion at the Milton Keynes Theatre Review

Pygmalion
Milton Keynes Theatre

28-31 May 2014

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Reviewed by Hilary Whates

Pygmalion (written by Bernard Shaw), originally subtitled ‘a love story in five acts’ was first performed 100 years ago and this centenary tour is a superb interpretation of the original context and spirit of the play. The drama presents us with stereotypes and challenges us to consider the issues of social class, freedom of spirit, the power of financial independence and women’s ‘place’ in society. All this must be taken in the context of the time it was written in, but have such strong links with life today that you cannot help but walk from the theatre with much to think about. As a love story it is a rather heart-rending one.

The drama, which is perhaps a little slow to get going, begins late on a rainy evening outside old Covent Garden market where a chance meeting between Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, and Colonel Pickering a linguist of Indian dialects results in a bet that Professor Higgins will be able to transform the cockney speaking Covent Garden flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a woman as poised and well-spoken as a duchess. After the slightly ponderous start the play continues at an absorbing and terrific pace with clever and virtually seamless set changes between acts.

Rachel Barry is a wonderful Eliza, with brilliant comic timing, especially in the tea-party scene, but also portrays Eliza’s vulnerability and sensitivity to great effect. You cannot fail to be moved by the situation she is in. The gauche, bullying and overbearing Henry Higgins, portrayed so well by the extraordinarily talented Alistair McGowan, teaches her how to speak and behave like a lady but, despite her best efforts, there seems to be no way that Eliza can engage his affection.

I especially enjoyed the arrival of her father, Alfred Doolittle, played to perfection by Jamie Foreman, proclaiming that he demands his right to remain a member of the underserving poor and promising to spend the five pounds he has gained from ‘selling’ his daughter to Professor Higgins in a very short but enjoyable manner. His horror, later in the play, at having to marry and become a member of the middle classes following a bequest from an admiring rich benefactor is convincing and very funny.

Rula Lenska is, as you would expect, superb as Mrs Higgins – her patience clearly tried by her son but perhaps the only person who is really able to make him stop and consider his behaviour.

An outstanding performance of Shaw’s masterpiece which is both brilliantly funny and a devastating critique of the English class system. We left our seats and made our way back to the car in earnest debate.

A superb evening’s theatre.

‘Shall I drive Mr T?’

‘Not bloody likely!!’*

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £16.90 to £40.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Pygmalion is showing at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 31 May 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 8717652.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK9 3NZ

*This is the classic line delivered by Eliza as she exits Mrs Higgins afternoon tea party.