THEATRE REVIEWS

Social engineering and politics are not what you would think would interest the masses, but George Bernard Shaw knew different and wrote Pygmalion. In the hands of this master of words we get comment and laughter as he tells the story of a Covent Garden flower girl who wishes to better herself. Juxtaposed to this are those who think that they know better for everyone, but cannot use it for their own good. However, let the story unfurl and an intriguing tale is told for the delight of all.

It was a pleasure to hear the cast delivering the words in clear diction so they could be heard everywhere in the auditorium. We had the modern Cockney accent of the before reform Eliza Doolittle, played by Sarah Quintrell, who goes on to give us a quintessential society lady with glimpses of her past. Then it was the contemporary public school accent of Henry Higgins, played by David Leonard, who thinks his way is right, but begins to see that he is not achieving all he wants. He has the like minded fellow traveller Colonel Pickering, played by Robert Pickavance, to aid and abet him. These two characters are surrounded by other characters: Eliza's father Alfred Doolittle, played by Mark White, who, without realising it, is a moralist philosopher with all that that brings with it; Henry's mother (Christine Cox); a love struck Freddy Eynesford Hill (Henry Luxemburg).

Put these characters and the rest of this intuitive cast into a set designed Siobhan Ferrie, with the best floor to be seen on any stage, and let Damian Cruden direct the cast to as near to what Shaw wanted and you are set to have a fine evening at the theatre. © BA

“Pygmalion ” is at York from the 27th May to the 17th June, 2006. This is a No Smoking theatre. Council car parking charge £2 visitor and £1 resident from 6pm until Midnight.