Reader Reviews
Pygmalion (Old Vic Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Irritating and dull. The odd line sparkles but every character seems so insular and glib. Very disappointing. - addicted to theatre | 20 Apr 10 |
| An ok production of the Shaw play. Performances were good but nothing too spectacular. The supporting performances were not very impressive. If you can only see a few productions around this time in London (i only had time to watch 8 performances) i wouldn't recommend it. There are better plays in London, there is even a better Shaw (Major Barbara). - Manolis D. | 05 Jul 08 |
| Peter Hall's lavish production takes a while to warm up and I couldn't help waiting for someone to break into song during the opening scene. It bursts into life during Eliza's hilarious debut at Mrs. Higgins' tea party. Michelle Dockery is excellent as a highly dignified Eliza finally breaking free from the control of her creator. I was less convinced by Tim Piggott-Smith's childish and slovenly Higgins, playing him like an elderly teenager, but otherwise this is a near faultless revival of a fine play which, as noted by Gareth James, fits the Old Vic well. However it is still one of my least favourite theatres: badly raked with still too many creaky seats and the toilet provision is a disgrace. - David Baxter | 11 Jun 08 |
| I have seen many versions of My Fair Lady on film and in the theatre and am a great lover of the play Pygmalion so I knew what to expect. What I did not expect was an outstanding performance from Michelle Dockery, an actress with a great future in the theatre as a leading lady. Tim Piggott-Smith plays a great comical Higgins constantly using his cardigan to exaggerate his every movement. He is emotionally nieve with Eliza but the point is not laboured in this production. Tony Haygarth played a very believable Mr Dolittle who is like a duck out of water when thrust into middle-class society. The supporting cast including Una Stubbs as Mrs Pearce and Barbara Jefford, and James Laurenson as Colonel Pickering work well with the main players. Don't expect the ball scene as in the original unlike the film Eliza does not meet the queen or dance with a prince. I would recommend anyone who knows or loves Pygmalion not to miss this production. - Andrew Earl | 09 Jun 08 |
| Wonderful to hear the superbly witty and poignant original script without the falsely romantic ending. For the most part the actors were excellent although to be ultra critical I found Una Stubbs wasn't maternal enough - too waspish and Doolittle delivered his lines too quickly - more pauses would have given the comedy more clout! - Jean Anderson | 05 Jun 08 |
| Fantastic evening, cast were superb - Leigh Clothier | 05 Jun 08 |
| The success of this production may be partly down to the fact that they've honed it in Bath and on tour prior to London, but I think it's more down to excellent casting; it's rare you see something where everyone is so perfectly cast as here. More than any other production of this play I've seen, this brings out Higgins naivety & lack of emotional intelligence leading to unfulfillment. The play fits the Old Vic like a glove. - Gareth James | 11 May 08 |
