Editor Ella Guy reviews the Bailey Theatre Company’s Pygmalion.
The Bailey Theatre company’s recent production of Pygmalion did not disappoint. From new stars to original music, the show left a fantastic impression.
BTC is clearly full of talent: director Jessica O’Toole led the cast and crew to great success; Jed Godfrey both directed and composed all of the music; for Boo Mingay, who played Eliza, Pygmalion was her first show and she gave a stunning performance; and Ollie Painter is one to watch. In fact, there were too many talents to name!
Much attention had clearly been paid to the text. The play is one about class, speech and friendship. Eliza, a flower seller, presents herself to the phonetic expert Professor Higgins, wishing to learn how to speak ‘proper’ English. It is a difficult play with characters who might easily become characatures, but there was a holistic understanding of the text from its overarching meaning down to the detail. Boo and Ollie understood their characters completely. They played the comedy with wonderful subtlety and the disagreements with convincing intensity. Eliza’s iconic ‘owwww’ lines were delivered with hilarity, and Higgins’ imitations were just as funny. Many of the actors were also tasked with switching between roles, which they did seamlessly. Sophie Browning, for example, slid between the contrastingly serious Mrs Pearce and imaginative Clara with ease, and George Smith was a jolly contrast to Higgins as Colonel Pickering.
There was a striking choreography of seating, where characters practically danced around one another. With scenes in which one character sat to the side, or where one stood above the others, the dynamics (which shift dramatically) were carefully considered, and with the audience always kept in mind.
The set was magically transformed from room to room with minimal but beautifully thought-out props, and the changing of sets was cleverly done, with such speed that there was no intervention in the action. Leech Hall was brought to life with an effective set, captivating music and performances that totally immersed the audience in this comedy of manners.
Photos provided by BTC.
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