Those craving timeless theater and intelligent social comedy shouldn't miss this weekend's Pygmalion, No Refund Theatre's (NRT) only production this summer.

The play, which is used as the basis for the classic musical My Fair Lady, tells the story of Professor Henry Higgins, who on a bet attempts to turn Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a refined socialite through various trials of proper English diction and etiquette. An awkward romance ensues as Higgins attempts to refine her as the story unfolds.

NRT selected the dates of the solo summer show to coincide with the influx of possible attendees during the 40th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

"NRT tries to have an annual summer show as long as someone has the gumption to organize a production," said Blythe Hart (senior-theater), who put together the production. "Only one person auditioned for last summer's production, so things usually don't work out like this."

Hart, who initially planned on directing, will play the role of Doolittle, since auditions proved fruitless for the main character. With Hart playing the main lead, the play will be a co-operative direction, meaning the players will direct one another throughout production.

Eric Leslie, a 2003 alumnus, will be playing the role of Henry Higgins. Leslie has been involved with NRT since he was a freshman in 1998. He continues to work with NRT as he now lives in State College, working for AccuWeather.

"Community theater is something I've always been doing and intend to do forever," Leslie said. "I've been wanting to do the part of Henry Higgins since high school, and being able to do it in the stage version is great."

Leslie called the play "timeless" and said the questions about social roles first written in the early twentieth century still apply today. The development of basic human interaction within the context of comedy is the best thing to watch as the play develops, Leslie said.

The College of Arts and Architecture provided funding for the play, mainly through the efforts of Professor Randy Ploog, coordinator of international programs for the college.

Although Ploog has helped the arts on campus before by bringing international artists to campus, this is his first involvement with NRT because of Hart's choice to produce Pygmalion.

Ploog had used the play before as a case study in his class sections of Arts and Architecture 100 (Introduction to International Arts) and was contacted by Hart, a former student of the class, about problems with funding the production.

"I saw it as a perfect opportunity to apply a campus happening to class studies," Ploog said. "So I organized for the College of Arts and Architecture to fund the production."

Hart also noted that NRT has its fall season lined up, and 10 plays of wide variety are in the works to be produced, including an adaptation of the novel Catch-22.

Auditions for the fall semester shows will begin during the third week of classes, and NRT is always looking for participants, Hart said, adding that directors are also welcome, and a major in theater is not required.