A review by anjumstar
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
4.0
As is seeming to be Shaw's pattern the end sucks. The end to My Fair Lady (the musical based off of this show) is pretty bad, but this is just terrible. I see why they expanded what they did in the musical. Fortunately my version of the play (I'm not sure if all versions have this) had a follow-up section after the curtain that explained what happens in the many years following the play to the majority of the characters. This adds so much and makes them so very much more like real people--always something that I look for in theatre. Loved this and wish that more plays and books and everything did stuff like this.
But aside from that altogether unsatisfying end, the rest of the play is very good. Very similar to the musical in some places and wholly different in others. It's interesting to note that here Eliza has a really good ear and is essentially a savant at piano. It makes her truly fascinating and therefore we understand more of Higgins' and Pickering's interest in her.
I personally loved how Higgins and Pickering kind of made her into their little play-thing, as is pointed out by Higgins' mother. Higgins and Pickering have more similar personalities here save for their manners and that makes them more sensible friends.
Overall, this is of course a classic and for that reason alone everyone should read it. Just know that the end is disappointing, especially if you're going to see the show rather than read it.
But aside from that altogether unsatisfying end, the rest of the play is very good. Very similar to the musical in some places and wholly different in others. It's interesting to note that here Eliza has a really good ear and is essentially a savant at piano. It makes her truly fascinating and therefore we understand more of Higgins' and Pickering's interest in her.
I personally loved how Higgins and Pickering kind of made her into their little play-thing, as is pointed out by Higgins' mother. Higgins and Pickering have more similar personalities here save for their manners and that makes them more sensible friends.
Overall, this is of course a classic and for that reason alone everyone should read it. Just know that the end is disappointing, especially if you're going to see the show rather than read it.