Synopsis:

This musical follows a colorful cast of Covent Garden in England 1910. The story’s main protagonist, Eliza Doolittle, is a common flower girl who wishes to be more than the lot her life has given her and in turn lands in the hands of professor Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering. These two well-to-do men create a bet that Professor Higgins cannot raise this girl up and “create a duchess out of her” in six months. Higgins tirelessly teaches Eliza “proper English” and parades her around in high society functions until they reach the climax of their six month bet, the annual embassy ball. Eliza meets the likes of high society including Henry’s mother, Mrs.Higgins, and Freddy Eynsford Hill.  Eliza passes her test with flying colors and wins Higgins his bet. After this, Eliza is “fit for nothing” and in a place were she cannot go back to the life she once had nor can she truly be part of high society. She wonders what she will do with her life, will she marry Freddy, or be tossed back into the gutter?  In one final battle of wits and words Higgins and Eliza face off and Eliza stands on her own against the tyrant that “made her”.  Eliza returns home to Wimpole Street and professor Higgins and the musical is concluded with these two unlikely strangers becoming friends and house mates.

Act 2, Scene 5:

In this scene, Eliza has just left Professor Higgins’ home after realizing that the bet is over and her time is up. She finds herself at the home of Mrs. Higgins, mother of  Henry Higgins, and is talking with her about her situation when the scene opens. Mrs. Higgins is appalled to learn about the actions of her son, and his failings to congratulate Eliza in her efforts. As they are discussing this further, Higgins enters the scene and is surprised to find Eliza there and expects his mother to be on his side. Instead, Mrs. Higgins tells Eliza to not be bullied by him and leaves the two alone to talk. Higgins berates Eliza, belittling her and mocking her, and Eliza must stand against him and assert herself, not as Eliza the”common flower girl” or Eliza “the lady” but rather just as Eliza. They battle and verbally attack one another in one culminating fight, and then Eliza decides to leave. Higgins is left bewildered and confused about his emotions and stance towards Eliza and the audience too is left wondering how and if this pair will resolve their conflict.