Pygmalion at the Abbey Theatre
Pygmalion is on the Abbey stage at the moment. Better known to some people as the story of “My Fair Lady”, it is the play upon which the 1964 Oscar-winning movie of the same name was based.
Written by George Bernard Shaw, it is extraordinary that this is the first time that Pygmalion has been produced in the Abbey Stage.
Risteárd Cooper plays the almost formidable but sharp and comedic Henry Higgins against Charlie Murphy’s Eliza Doolittle. Higgins has not interest outside of his beloved phonetics and takes on Ms. Doolittle merely to win a bet with his colleague and fellow phonetician and linguist, Colonel Pickering (Nick Dunning). Both Cooper and Murphy are fantastically funny, in particular Higgins blustering speeches and complete oblivion to Eliza as a real person lead to some funny and some almost heart-breaking moments.
With the costumes having been designed by Peter O’Brien and with the usual rich and wonderful stage setting of the Abbey, Pygmalion is a veritable feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Cutting remarks, quick wit, comedy, beauty and love…Pygmalion has got it all and more. I’d go again right now if I could, it is a marvellous gem of a performance.
Pygmalion runs at the Abbey Theatre from 27th April to 11th June 2011. Tickets cost from €25.00 to €40.00 (€15.00-€23.0 for students and OAPs). Matinee performances on Saturday afternoons are less expensive. You can buy tickets online at www.abbeytheatre.ie or call the Box Office on (01) 87 87 222.
Thank you to the Press Office in the Abbey Theatre for two review tickets to see Pygmalion.
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