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CLAIRE Green IS Eliza Doolittle. That's how they put it when billing star names in a big film - and I can think of no better way of crediting Claire for her astonishingly accomplished role in Faringdon Dramatic Society's performance of
Pygmalion.
The choice of George Bernard Shaw's original play, for a modern audience so familiar with the musical version, was an inspired one. Particularly in the early stages, characterised by Eliza's ringing Cockney tones and Professor Higgins' bullying
swagger, one almost expected the cast to break into familiar song-and-dance. But by the end, the serious philosophy woven into Shaw's class comedy came through loud and clear.
If Claire gave us an authentic Eliza, then Dave Headey as Professor Higgins completed a
superb partnership, which matured into the quite riveting scene when Eliza's growing
confidence gives her the upper hand in delivering a masterful put-down to her erstwhile
manipulative tutor. The sheer memory exercise involved in this prolonged scene is testing enough for both characters: but to bring such force to the words, and emotion to the verbal sparring, left this critic full of
admiration.
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Ieuan Thomas complemented the star roles with a very sympathetic Colonel Pickering, while Sarah
Varnom brought great force of personality to Higgins' mother. Roger Leitch clearly
enjoyed his role of the working-class philosopher, Alfred Doolittle, while Maggie Sly and Christina Willett were splendid as Mrs Eynsford-Hill and her daughter Clara - particularly in their supporting roles for the scene largely stolen by Claire with her tour-de-force portrayal of the
Cockney-flower-girl turned lady-in-polite-company, who doesn't always remember her proper lines ("It is my belief that they done 'er in," she
famously says, speaking of her late aunt).
Josh Smith cavorted as Eliza's gormless but likeable suitor,
Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Joan Lee
rightfully set off the domestic scenes, while Walther Schoonenberg brought his
distinctive approach to the clever-dick linguist Nepommuck. Paul Garratt, Debbie Lock (doubling as a flautist), Jill
Headey, Chris Matic, Carole McDowall, Irene Schoonenberg, Jeni Summerfield, Peter Webster and Barry Willett completed a cast who were splendidly
costumed, as always, and supported by lovely sets. Carolyn Taylor directed and Kate Lord produced.
I.S
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