Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...When Smith's "Pygmalion," which has many of the right ideas, is clearing that kind of path, it feels fresh and vital. One wishes it had gone further and cleared away more of the familiar undergrowth surrounding a piece of writing always best when it lands somewhere close to the street where you live."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...The story of Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl who is taught to speak “the King’s English” by Professor Henry Higgins, that confirmed bachelor and master of the science of phonetics, is familiar enough. But simply by selecting the stunningly beautiful and talented Indian-born actress, Mouzam Makkar, to play Eliza, Smith has subtly suggested fresh meaning for the play — hinting at the many immigrants from throughout the Empire who eventually settled in and remade England, into the cosmopolitan, multi-culti society captured by such contemporary novelists as Zadie Smith. Makkar also happens to be wonderful in the role — fiery, proud, whip-smart and compellingly watchable. And this is only the latest of many recent performances in which she has demonstrated her star quality."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...The tale of a misogynistic phonetics professor who teaches a cockney flower girl to speak well--and in so doing, transforms her into an independent woman beyond his control--Shaw's classic brilliantly satirizes gender roles, class, and morality, even as it delivers a sublimated but potent romance. In Vance Smith's staging, leads Steve O'Connell and Mouzam Makkar bring bristling intelligence to their strong-willed characters, both of whom use intellectual achievement to harness their chaotic emotions."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Bohemian Theatre Ensemble and Stage Left Theatre's strong production of Pygmalion should definitely find a local audience among die-hard PBS aficionados, particularly with the current craze surrounding Downton Abbey. And remember, without Pygmalion, there would have been no My Fair Lady, so pay some homage to the brilliant original."
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"...Director Vance Smith assembles a deep bench of talent for this show. Mark Pracht, often a leading man on Chicago stages, steals the show as Eliza's father, a proletarian philosopher who discourses hilariously on the subject of middle class morality. Lisa Herceg is Higgins' mother, the closest thing the show has to a conscience. When Henry behaves most outrageously, his mother slaps him down with a furious moral gravitas. You don't want Lisa Herceg mad at you. Ever."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Phonetics professor Henry Higgins (Steve O’Connell) strikes a bet with his colleague Colonel Pickering (Sandy Elias) that he can pass off Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle (Mouzam Makkar) as a high-class lady in six months’ time. Unlike his later adapters, Shaw leaves most of the character development offstage. Makkar, so magnetic in other shows such as Collaboraction’s 1001, keeps her portrayal of Eliza too cartoonishly tomboyish in the early scenes and too contained later on. The rest of the cast tends to follow suit, though Mark Pracht impresses as Eliza’s opportunistic father, and in the final scene O’Connell at last finds some amusement in Higgins’s boyish petulance."
ShowBizChicago - Recommended
"...With a very able cast the evening gets off to a strong start as director Vance Smith allows his actors to find their own rhythm and momentum. Much is familiar, as the newer incarnations’ dialogue and song lyrics are taking verbatim from this script. Humor abounds as Higgins and Pickering place a bet to turn a cockney street urchin into a proper lady. In the process of Eliza’s transformation we meet all the familiar characters including Higgins servant Mrs. Pierce (Stephanie Sullivan), the ingénue Freddie (Charles Riffenburg) and Mother Higgins (the brilliant Lisa Herceg, who steals each scene she is in)."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...In Pygmalion, we see the arrogance toward women played out in society that still resonates today as misogynistic treatment by Higgins that still can be found. The terrific cast is most respectful to the material as each player skillfully presents their characters. You’d be hard pressed to see a finer non-Equity cast than the one BoHo and Stage Left have mounted for Pygmalion. This is a fast-paced and funny play that will have you rediscovering the Pygmalion myth. Having Higgins’ whistling melodies from My Fair Lady was a nice touch. Bo Ho and Stage Left once more prove why they are two of the finest non-Equity theatre troupes in Chicago."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Now, celebrating 100 years since it was written, two of our smaller theater companies, BoHo Theatre and Stage Left Theatre have joined together to bring us a sparkling production of this wonderful story about class and manners."
Sheridan Road - Highly Recommended
"...As for the cast, they combine earthy energy and extreme propriety, with fabulous results. As Higgins, Steve O'Connell is a dervish of magnificence. His professor is both ungainly child and untoward savant. He steals the show. Mouzam Makkar's Eliza cannot quite replicate his power, but her performance contains many moments of excellence. Granted, she has not quite made all of Eliza's transitions seem totally natural. But, she is sure to reach them in time. Meanwhile, as Eliza's vagabond father, Mark Pracht glows with natural spontaneity while Lisa Herceg's proper Mrs. Higgins shines with ingenious heart and strength."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...Though there were several nods to the style and quality of 'My Fair Lady', BoHo and Stage Left remained quite true to the original 'Pygmalion' script, and did it a good justice for its centennial. From the moment you walk in the intricately painted floor will grab your attention, the transformative story will hold you, and you'll leave the theatre smiling."
