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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Robbery reported at Subway on Crater Lake Avenue ... Gem along the river ... Home outside Eagle Point destroyed in Sunday fire ... Robbery reported at Subway on Crater Lake Avenue ... Gem along the river ... Home outside Eagle Point destroyed in Sunday fire ... THEATER Randall Theatre presents 'Pygmalion' Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 16, 2016 at 12:21 PM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 16, 2016 at 12:21 PM » Social News George Bernard Shaw's classic comedy "Pygmalion" is based on a Greek myth. It's the story of a sculptor, Pygmalion, who creates a statue of his ideal woman, Galatea, who is then brought to life by the goddess Venus. Shaw's creature of the gutters — poor flower girl Eliza Doolittle — is transformed into a duchess by her Pygmalion, phoneticist Henry Higgens. Shaw's play also inspired the musical "My Fair Lady." Those who know the musical will immediately recognize much of the dialogue between the characters, but "Pygmalion" is more than "My Fair Lady without music." "There is more depth to the characters in the play than is conveyed in the musical," says director Susan Aversa-Orrego in a press release. "The overriding impressions of the musical are the gorgeous costumes, colors and beauty of the production. The music is delightful, so the harshness of the life Eliza knows is not nearly what the reality of that world would be. In the play, we have much more emphasis on who these people are and what affects them." Randall Theatre's production of Shaw's "Pygmalion" opens Friday, March 18, with a gala at 6:30 p.m., followed by the show at 7 p.m. at the community theater, 10 E. Third St., Medford. Opening night tickets are $20. Other shows are set for 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19, Wednesday through Friday, March 23-25, and Thursday through Saturday, March 31 through April 2. Matinees will be presented at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 20, Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, April 3. Reserved seating is $18 and can be purchased online at randalltheatre.com or by calling 541-632-3258. Pay-what-you-want rush tickets will be available 30 minutes before each show and are available at the door. Randall's production of Shaw's classic tale stars Pam Ward, William Coyne, Elizabeth Suzanne, David Rowley and Linda Otto, along with Randall Theatre newcomers Caitlyn Olson, Tessa Alleman, William Babishoff, Barbara Henson, David Higgenbotham and Ilaena and Krysta Hepford. As Cockney Eliza Doolittle, played by Olson, rises from the streets, she learns not only the correct way to pronounce words, but how to recognize ladies and gentlemen by their actions as well as their language. In fact, none of the characters end the way they began. Doolittle becomes a fully formed lady, and Higgins learns a bit of what it takes to be truly human. Mrs. Higgins realizes she taught her son many things, but some essential character elements are missing. They are all changed through the course of the "experiment." Romantics long tried to convince Shaw that the most appropriate ending to the play would have been a match between Doolittle and Higgins, but Shaw maintained it impossible given their characters. "Shaw was very clear that this was not a romance between Eliza and Henry, Aversa-Orrego says. "It is, more than anything, the story of a young woman with enough gumption to want to change her life. 'Pygmalion' is a tightly constructed comedy of manners and morals. It's a truly funny and irreverent look at the class structure in Great Britain — one based on how you speak, rather than who you are." By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 16, 2016 at 12:21 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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