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Creating a good impression Pygmalion
Malvern Theatres
**** As an impressionist, Alistair McGowan
stepping into the role of haughty phonetics professor Henry Higgins in
Pygmalion makes a lot of sense. It means Higgins, an expert in dialects, can
quickly and comically parody accents that he has studied all his life as
he transforms cockney flower
But what is more unexpected is the acting side to
McGowan. The side of him that portrays the leading man as a petulant,
impatient child toying with those around him. He jumps up and down with excitement and stamps
his feet when he doesn't get his own way. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as McGowan is
after all a Bafta-winning actor and is returning to the role that proved
such a success for him in the past. Pygmalion is the original George Bernard Shaw play from which the popular musical My Fair Lady was based. Alistair McGowan as Prof Higgins We open with a chaotic, rainy meeting between
rough and ready Eliza and Professor Higgins, which ends up with him
having a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can fool high
society into thinking she is a Duchess after just six months of tireless
speech training. Set at the turn of the 20th Century when class
divides were unmistakable and women's rights were virtually
non-existent, the issues affecting females and what happens when you
move people up the class ladder are pronounced - not just for Eliza but
her lovable-rogue of a father Alfred too. The story unfolds between a dark lamp-lit study
and Professor Higgins' mother's grand parlour and is sharp and witty
throughout. Rachel Barry is a delightful Eliza, transforming
from a coo-ing muddy-faced commoner to a prim well-pronounced woman who
has pride enough in herself to eventually play Higgins at his own game. Amongst the small and excellent cast is also Rula
Lenska as Higgins' patient mother and Jamie Foreman playing bin man
Alfred Doolittle with gusto - he's had plenty of practice as a cockney
though as he starred as Derek Branning in Eastenders. Paul Brightwell is also a steady hand on stage as
polite, admirable Colonel Pickering. With strong acting all round and a play that has
stood the test of time, this production can't do anything but leave you
with a good impression. Alison Brinkworth
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girl
Eliza Doolittle from a "guttersnipe" into a "duchess".