Pygmalion Reviews

Jerome Davis from Raleigh, NC

EXCEPTIONAL

Remarkable production. Edge of your seat suspense coupled with many laugh out loud moments. Most physical Shaw I’ve ever seen. Ferran is a feral and rubber limbed Eliza. Carvel is everything he wasn’t as Trump (human), both magnetic and aloof, a neat trick. Four leads are all as good as might be hoped for. All this on the ugliest set since Resurrection Blues. Kudos to Jones for simply orchestrating this masterful take on a 110 year old play, making it feel as immediate as tomorrow.

SG from London, England

LOVED IT!

Modern and entertaining, great cast and loved the pace!

Jan from Tunbridge Wells, England

PYGMALION - TOUR DE FORCE

Having read the mixed reviews I went to see this play with an open mind. I was very pleasantly surprised and found myself chuckling throughout. The modern take on the story works well and all characters are extremely well cast. Loved it

Adrian from London, England

PATSY AND BERTIE ARE SIMPLY GLORIOUS TOGETHER.

I've new seen Pygmalion twice and will hopefully see it once more before it ends it run. Bertie Carvel and Patsy Ferran are simply astonishing in their roles, when they are on stage, I couldn't take my eyes off them (one eye for each actor) . I thought everyone played their roles superbly, and that the cast gelled really well together. Clare below is talking bollocks, it's a fantastic show, and well worth spending your evening or afternoon at The Old Vic. Funny and though-provoking. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Joanna from Yorkshire, England

GREAT POTENTIAL SOMEWHAT LOST

I had to agree with some of the above reviews re the frantic pace of this production, the confused period-setting, the rather strange set design and the lack of time for the characters to "develop". If you're expecting a stage rendition of "My Fair Lady" then this version may not be for you, (no singing in it for a start!) and the superfast transition of Eliza in this production sort of beggars belief. All of the actors are wonderful in their own right (many have demonstrated their versatility in TV dramas, film, other stage productions etc) but I felt they weren't pushed to their full potential or allowed to develop their characters to the max. The growing relationship between Higgins and Eliza could have been explored more than it was and which would have made this production much more interesting. Too much shouting at times, bit chaotic in parts and not every word said could be heard (marked contrast: the hilarious "The Crown Jewels" at the Garrick where every single word can be heard). Use of mics in future perhaps? Paid top dollar for the seats and expected that bit better to be honest.

Margie from London, England

TRULY AWFUL, ONLY SHAW'S WRITING PULLS IT THROUGH.

Quite the worst production of Pygmalion I've ever seen. Played as farce/pantomime. Two wonderful leading actors completely undermined by appalling direction. One of the main themes of the play is the development of Eliza from an uneducated flower girl to an articulate woman of poise and strength. That can only make sense if Eliza at the beginning is shown as someone with the intelligence and determination to improve her lot through education - the "resolutely ambitious young woman" as Shaw puts it in his epilogue - but it is unbelievable that the fool Patsy Ferran is directed to play at the opening would ever become the "tower of strength" at the end. Meanwhile Higgins is played as a pantomime villain and repeatedly sticks his tongue out in a really unsettling manner. The added "happy ending", as Shaw said, need not be shown but to satisfy those with "enfeebled" imaginations. Altogether far too much running around the stage. And the set is dreadful. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

DavidS from Toronto, Canada

YIKES!

"Pygmalion at The Old Vic"! Classic, right? The perfect tourist activity? What a disappointment. The leads definitely had their moments, and Eliza's dad was a standout, but what a mess. The book, direction, costumes and set were confusing! I was shocked that the play got applause.

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