PYGMALION

George Bernard Shaw's most popular comedy, the basis for MY FAIR LADY, concerns a phoneticist who bets that he can pass a flower girl off as a duchess. Caedmon has cleaned up and reissued its 1972 dream-cast recording, starring Sir Michael Redgrave and his daughter Lynn, supported by Michael Hordern, Donald Pleasence, and a very young Felicity Kendal. This production has more interest to students than the general public, for it is spoiled by listless direction and inept production. It does jump to life for extended stretches, but the action is sometimes unclear and the miking and editing poor. Lynn Redgrave manages to shine delightfully throughout, presaging her later stage successes in Shaw's MESALLIANCE and SAINT JOAN. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]