Kilmardinny Players
Pygmalion
by Bernard Shaw
directed by Christina Dowers and Jane MacConnacher
at the Turret Theatre 31 March to 2 April 2016 at 7.30 pm
Programme
The Cast
Professor Higgins
Eliza Doolittle
Colonel Pickering
Mrs Higgins
Alfred Doolittle
Mrs Pearce/
taxi driver(off)
Freddy Eynsford Hill
Mrs Eynsford Hill
Clara Eynsford Hill
Parlormaid/bystander
Bystander/maid
Sarcastic Bystander /maid
Bystander/maid
Paul Cockcroft
Lisa Colquhoun
David Hutchinson
Noelle Ryan
Colin Price
Christina Dowers
David McLean
Emma Reid
Aimi Philips
Dr Katerina Vasilaki McKay
Sarah Blackburn
Deirdre Campbell
Susan Moir
This amateur production of “Pygmalion” is presented by special arrangement with the Society of
Authors.
Kilmardinny Players is a registered charity SCO41872
Visit our website: www.kilmardinnyplayers.org
The Crew
Directors
Technical Director/set design
Stage Manager
Prompt/voice coach/box office
Costumes
Christina Dowers and
Jane MacConnacher
Craig Dowers
Jane MacConnacher
Liz Good
Moira Crawford
(many of the costumes were
supplied by
That Looks Good in Paisley)
London, circa 1914
Act One : 11.15 pm. Portico of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden
Act Two : Next day. 11.00 am. Higgin’s Laboratory, Wimpole St
INTERVAL
(refreshments served in the foyer)
Act Three : Some weeks later. 4.00 pm. Mrs Higgin’s drawing room in her
Chelsea Flat
Act Four : Months later. Midnight. Higgin’s Laboratory, Wimpole Street
Act Five : Next day. Mrs Higgin’s drawing room in her Chelsea Flat
The version of the play we are using was first published in 1916
Special thanks to Kirkintilloch Players for allowing us to hire The Turret
Theatre for this production while Kilmardinny House is closed.
We also wish to thank all those who helped in any way with this
production in particular Craig and Christina Dowers for countless hours
hunting for and making props, furniture, backdrops and maid costumes.
Kilmardinny Players is a registered charity SCO41872
Visit our website: www.kilmardinnyplayers.org
Some views on “Pygmalion”
“Pygmalion” – chosen play for our group to perform by Christina, co director
We hear language in all its forms in Pygmalion: everything from slang and "small
talk," to heartfelt pleas and big talk about soul and poverty. Depending on the
situation, and depending on whom you ask, language can separate or connect
people, degrade or elevate, transform or prevent transformation. Language, we
learn, doesn't necessarily need to be "true" to be effective; it can deceive just as
easily as it can reveal the truth. It is, ultimately, what binds Pygmalion together, and
it pays to read carefully; even something as small as a single word can define a
person. As a linguist, I have also spent most of my working life learning and
teaching French and Spanish so a play about language, and phonetics was perfect
for me. I have taken this play and its words and guided my cast into bringing our
version of “Pygmalion” to life.
“Pygmalion” - A play attempting to define the difference between Society and
Class by Jane MacConnacher, Co Director
In Pygmalion, we observe a society divided, separated by language, education, and
wealth. Shaw gives us a chance to see how that gap can be bridged, both
successfully and unsuccessfully. As he portrays it, London society cannot simply be
defined by two terms, "rich" and "poor." Within each group there are smaller less
obvious distinctions, and it is in the middle, in that grey area between wealth and
poverty that the most surprising truths emerge as our characters blend together to
create a hilarious yet enlightening outcome. The cast has been chosen by myself
and Christina based on so many elements with the most important being the "Role
Reversal" of Professor Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, promising our audience a
dynamic performance.
“Pygmalion” – A Classic of Feminist Literature? by Paul aka Higgins
One hundred years ago. Edwardian England. The position of women? No vote, of
course. The home, the kitchen, the factory, were still a “women’s place”. Or
demonstrating. Demanding the vote. Chained to railings. Bombing. Burning.
Throwing stones. Slashing the “Rokeby Venus”. In prison. On hunger strike. Force
fed. “Cat and Mouse” Act. Dead under the King’s horse at Epsom.
Eliza Doolittle. A woman and poor too. A double whammy. What are her prospects?
To be exploited by two rich men? Not in the traditional way. Haughty Higgins and
polite Pickering play an intellectual not a sexual, game. They want to make a “lady”
of her. She’s powerless to resist. But being a victim doesn’t suit. Who’ll end up
strong, confident and powerful here? Who’ll be left lonely and bereft?
“You might marry, you know”.
A feminist fable of its time. For all time.
Kilmardinny Players is a registered charity SCO41872
Visit our website: www.kilmardinnyplayers.org
Some of our Previous Productions:
November 2002
April 2003
November 2003
June 2005
October 2005
November 2006
November 2007
November 2008
November 2009
May 2010
November 2010
November 2011
November 2012
March 2013
November 2013
March 2014
November 2014
March 2015
November 2015
“Deathtrap” by Ira Levin
Three One Act Plays
“The Chalk Garden” by Enid Bagnold
“Confusions” by Alan Ayckbourn
“Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell
"Barefoot in the Park" by Neil Simon
"Spanish Lies" by Frank Vickery
"Good Things" by Liz Lochhead
"A Murder is Announced" by Agatha Christie
Three One Act Plays: "Green Favours" by Frank Vickery,
"The Rats" by Agatha Christie and
"The Luvvies" by Lynn Brittney.
"Blithe Spirit" by Noel Coward
"How The Other Half Loves" by Alan Ayckbourn
“The Continental Quilt” by Joan Greening
"The Real Inspector Hound" by Tom Stoppard
"Cinderella" by James Barry
“Don’t Dress For Dinner” by Marc Camoletti
“The Odd Couple” (Female Version) by Neil Simon
“A Night of 30s Drama”
by Agatha Christie and Thornton Wilder
“Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill
Request for new members: We hope you will consider joining us whether you
wish to act or help backstage, please contact us soon by emailing our secretary:
[email protected]
Future events (for more details check our website):
Friday 8 April
Meal at Garvies in Milngavie.
18 April and 25 April : Play reading nights
12 May:
AGM/drama quiz night
6 June:
Meet your new committee and share ideas for future events.
9 June:
Autumn play auditions
13 June:
Autumn play auditions
20 June:
Autumn play auditions
Kilmardinny Players is a registered charity SCO41872
Visit our website: www.kilmardinnyplayers.org