Dear Liar review – George Bernard Shaw spars with the original Eliza in Pygmalion

Director Nicholas Hurran and actors Alex Jennings and Sian Thomas opened a revival of Jerome Kilty’s play 'Dear Liar' at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London this week to examine the complex, decade-spanning relationship between playwright George Bernard Shaw and 그의 muse, Mrs. Patrick Campbell. The production, a staged reading of the intimate correspondence between the two theatrical icons, seeks to bring to life the flirtatious and often cantankerous dynamic that defined their creative partnership. The play serves as a historical retrospective on the man who wrote 'Pygmalion' and the actress who famously originated the role of Eliza Doolittle, offering audiences a glimpse into the private lives of two of the early 20th century's most formidable stage personalities. The narrative of 'Dear Liar' is rooted in a unique encounter between the play's creator, Jerome Kilty, and Shaw himself. While stationed in London with the US Army during the Second World War, Kilty took the bold step of doorstepping the octogenarian playwright at his home. Despite the intrusion, Shaw reportedly received the young soldier cordially, an interaction that left a lasting impression on Kilty. This meeting eventually inspired him to curate and dramatize the extensive letters exchanged between Shaw and Campbell, which lasted from the late 1890s until Campbell’s death in 1940. In this latest staging, Alex Jennings portrays the witty and intellectually demanding Shaw, while Sian Thomas embodies the spirited Campbell. The performances highlight the shifting power dynamics of their relationship, moving from professional collaboration to a deep, albeit platonic, romantic obsession. While some critics describe the structure of the play as somewhat 'fusty' due to its reliance on reading letters aloud, the chemistry between the leads provides a vivid portrait of two artists who were both deeply in love with and frequently exasperated by one another. The production underscores the significant influence Campbell had on Shaw's most famous works, proving that behind the playwright’s sharp intellect was a woman who was more than his match in wit and temperament.