The classic comedy about Eliza Doolittle, a flower seller who is turned into a princess by the devilishly attractive Professor Henry Higgins, will dazzle audiences at the Montgomery Theatre starting July 14, 2010. George Bernard Shaw’s comedy was the basis for the musical My Fair Lady. Set in London at about the time of the Anne of Green Gables’ publication, Pygmalion contains some of the most memorable characters and funniest dialogue ever to appear on the stage.
Henry Higgins: Eliza: you are to live here for the next six months, learning how to speak beautifully, like a lady in a florist's shop. You shall go to Buckingham Palace in a carriage, beautifully dressed. If the King finds out you're not a lady, you will be taken to the Tower of London, where your head will be cut off as a warning to other presumptuous flower girls.
LIZA: I sold flowers. I didn't sell myself. Now you've made a lady of me I'm not fit to sell anything else.
Onceuponia, the previously announced play, is being postponed until 2011. This is a result of another success for its creator, PEI native Jackie Torrens. Leading Montgomery actor and Gemini award winning writer, Torrens has been seconded to write the television series, “TV with TV’s Jonathan Torrens”, (her brother). Onceuponia , set to premiere at the Montgomery this summer, has been postponed for one year. The play’s development workshops funded by The Canada Council for the Arts will go ahead in 2010 as planned. Says Torrens: “Against my will I had to go write for my brother or there'd be hell to pay with our mother. But I am eager to escape back to Montgomery as soon as possible.”
“ Pygmalion continues our tradition of presenting freshly relevant classic comedies like The Importance of Being Earnest and Private Lives. Pygmalion will be exceptionally beautiful to look at with extremely high calibre acting – just like our last two hit shows” promises Artistic Director Duncan McIntosh.
Pygmalion performances will alternate with Johnny Belinda from July 14th to August 23rd,2010
Johnny Belinda, written and set on PEI by Elmer Harris has never been performed in Canada. The passionate love between a deaf girl and the doctor who teaches her sign language has been loved in a musical version, a television version and as an Oscar winning movie.
Members' tickets for Pygmalion and Johnny Belinda are available now by calling the box office at 902 963 3963. Memberships can be renewed or purchased for as little as $20 by contacting the theatre office.
Tickets will be available to the public online starting March 15th
