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Photo by Don Kellogg

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Pygmalion

Clair Danes pulls it off in style! She's been on Broadway before, but never like this. She's a tough, street smart gal in England, Eliza Doolittle, turned into a lady before our eyes by Jefferson Mays as Professor of Phonetics, Henry Higgins.

The play, as many of you know, is what the musical My Fair Lady is based on. Sans music - it's still a powerhouse. George Bernard Shaw's words flow like water - ever eloquent, filled with energy and packed with meaning. I've not seen the musical or the play before and I have to report i thought that Henry Higgins, played by the ever affected Jefferson Mays was just a bit to odd for my liking. Having nothing else to compare against, i don't know if it's Jefferson being his usual "odd" self, or perhaps exactly how Shaw envisioned the role.

Roundabout seems to have yet another success story with this one. I doubt it will be a "sell out" smash hit, but it is certainly a treat for those who are hungry for a classic.