Pygmalion for Lower Blue Mountains

Glenbrook Players (NSW) will present George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion as their final production for 2011

This famous play, original source of the possibly more famous musical My Fair Lady, tells of the remaking of chirpy

Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into an elegant lady capable of passing as a princess in High Society.

Professor of Linguistics Henry Higgins prides himself on his ability to transform the least promising material and

backs himself in a wager with Colonel Pickering to teach elocution to Eliza, much to the dismay of his mother and his housekeeper.

Having Eliza living in his house for ease of daily lessons causes misunderstandings, particularly with Eliza's disreputable father,

a dustman, who descends on Professor Higgins for financial compensation for the so-called loss of Eliza's reputation.

Professor Higgins success and the results of his social experiments with both Eliza and her father make for great entertainment.

The cast features Ali Gore as Eliza, Bob Sparrow as Professor Higgins, Alan Pope as Col Pickering, Steve Wray as Doolittle, Robyn Pope as Mrs Higgins, Joanna Sparrow as Mrs Pearce, Harald Kleinmann as Freddy, Jill Hogwood as Mrs Eynsford-Hill and Samantha Miller as Clara.

Pygmalion director, Dot Ward, performed professionally for many years with the Q Theatre.  She has directed numerous productions with Glenbrook Players and The Blue Mountains Musical Society.  Prior to Pygmalion she directed Woody Allen’s Don’t Drink the Water in 2010, with Bob Sparrow and Robyn Pope as the Hollanders and Costa Karagounis as Axel.  She was also a welcome addition to the stage in the one act comedy Garbage by Helen Wyngard, as part of the Glenbrook Players one act play festival in May 2011.  This play was reprised for the Central Coast Theatrefest with the play, director Margaret Bell and actor Dot Ward all winning best in their respective categories.  

Ali Gore recently directed the Blue Mountains Musical Society production of Oliver! while Robyn Pope directed the Glenbrook Players production of Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters.

Glenbrook Players will present Pygmalion at Glenbrook Community Theatre, Great Western Highway, Glenbrook for six performances, Friday 18^thand 25^thNovember at 8 p.m. and Saturday 19^thand 26^thNovember at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Bookings (02) 4739 1110 or www.glenbrookplayers.com.au

Image: Bob Sparrow, Ali Gore and Alan Pope.

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