Pygmalion

This enchanting tale of Eliza Doolittle's transformation from Cockney flower girl into elegant lady under the guidance of cantankerous linguist Henry Higgins has been a hit with audiences since it was first performed in 1913. The play skillfully blends social satire, philosophical wit, a heated battle of the sexes, and what is perhaps the greatest platonic romance ever committed to paper. Pygmalion's musical incarnation, My Fair Lady, remains a Broadway staple. The original play is actually funnier than the musical, and its story and characters are more fully developed. The play is also much easier and less expensive for acting companies to produce. The only reason Pygmalion is not performed more often is its ponderous length: almost three hours, extended by intermissions. This seamless abridgment trims the excess from G. B. Shaw's often-verbose script while retaining all of its wit and charm. The result is a leaner, livelier Pygmalion which is less demanding of performers and more entertaining for their audiences. The cast has been reduced to twelve roles (4M, 6F, 2 either), with some doubling possible. The royalty-free script lends itself to modest-budget productions and is easily adapted as a staged reading. Pygmalion, like fine wine, gets better with age. This artful adaptation by an award-winning playwright makes Shaw's classic accessible to the widest possible audience.