Pygmalion is a George Bernard Shaw play written and set over 100 years ago. You might know the basic story outline from the film classic ‘My Fair Lady’. Upper-class, narcissistic but well-intentioned bully Henry Higgins attempts to turn the working-class, feisty, proud but naïve Eliza Doolittle into a refined lady by giving her elocution lessons and his home to live in.
Why? Well, just for the hell of it really. Shaw’s classic tale poses questions about social class, sexism, exploitation and what it means to be truly free, which we are still grappling with today.
It is a great evening’s entertainment which is as poignantly moving as it is laugh-out-loud funny. All of which makes it’s revival a perfect choice by The Oxford Theatre Guild at Oxford Playhouse this week.
Vaughan Pierce and Eleanor Schofield make for a wonderful comedy double act as the pompous Henry and plucky Eliza. We gasp at Henry’s unselfconscious sexist arrogance and roar with laughter at Eliza’s attempts to ‘tawk propah’. Continually at loggerheads, they are never able to see each other’s point of view.
Jo Green is also memorable as Eliza’s conniving but somehow loveable father Alfred, who realises he preferred to be poor and free rather than wealthy with social constraints.
Throughout the Oxford Theatre Guild’s faithful interpretation of the play we realise that Shaw isn’t rooting for, or attacking, either gender or any social class. Instead, he is advocating respect and kindness above all else.
Thankfully, Higgins’ side-kick Pickering (Paul Clifford) and mother (Amanda Holland) are on hand to demonstrate these qualities. Colourful backdrops, period furniture and pretty dresses complete the Edwardian picture.
Congratulations! (again!) to OTG. If you want a great evening’s entertainment that makes you laugh and think in equal measure, look no further.
OTG’s Pygmalion is at Oxford Playhouse until Saturday March 5. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/pygmalion
Edward Bliss
