''Galatea, or Pygmalion Re-Versed'' is a musical
burlesque
A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects. that parodies the
Pygmalion
Pygmalion or Pigmalion may refer to:
Mythology
* Pygmalion (mythology), a sculptor who fell in love with his statue
Stage
* ''Pigmalion'' (opera), a 1745 opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau
* ''Pygmalion'' (Rousseau), a 1762 melodrama by Jean-Jacques ...
legend, and specifically
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most f ...
's 1871 play ''
Pygmalion and Galatea''. The
libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
was written by
Henry Pottinger Stephens
Henry Pottinger Stephens, also known as Henry Beauchamp (1851 – 11 February 1903), was an English dramatist and journalist.
After beginning his career writing for newspapers, Stephens began writing Victorian burlesques in the 1870s in coll ...
and W. Webster. The score was composed by
Wilhelm Meyer Lutz
Wilhelm Meyer Lutz (19 May 1829 – 31 January 1903) was a German-born British composer and conductor who is best known for light music, musical theatre and burlesques of well-known works.
Emigrating to the UK at the age of 19, Lutz started as ...
.
The work was premiered at the
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was first established as the Strand Musick Hall in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. In 1868, it became known a ...
on 26 December 1883. It starred
Nellie Farren
Ellen "Nellie" Farren (16 April 1848 – 29 April 1904) was an English actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in musical burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre.
Born into a theatrical family, Farren began acting as a ch ...
and
Edward Terry.
Background
This type of work,
Victorian burlesque
Victorian burlesque, sometimes known as travesty or extravaganza, is a genre of theatrical entertainment that was popular in Victorian era, Victorian England and in the New York theatre of the mid-19th century. It is a form of parody music, parod ...
, was popular in Britain in the late 19th century. Other examples include ''
The Bohemian G-yurl and the Unapproachable Pole
''The Bohemian G-yurl and the Unapproachable Pole'' is a musical burlesque in two acts, with a score by Meyer Lutz to a libretto by Henry James Byron, which played under the management of John Hollingshead at the Gaiety Theatre in London in 1877 ...
'' (1877), ''Blue Beard'' (1882), ''Ariel'' (1883, by
F. C. Burnand
Sir Francis Cowley Burnand (29 November 1836 – 21 April 1917), usually known as F. C. Burnand, was an English comic writer and prolific playwright, best known today as the librettist of Arthur Sullivan's opera ''Cox and Box''.
The son of ...
), ''
Little Jack Sheppard
''Little Jack Sheppard'' is a Victorian burlesque, burlesque melodrama written by Henry Pottinger Stephens and William Yardley (cricketer), William Yardley, with music by Meyer Lutz, with songs contributed by Florian Pascal,Florian Pascal was a ps ...
'' (1885), ''
Monte Cristo Jr.
''Monte Cristo Jr.'' was a Victorian burlesque with a libretto written by Richard Henry, a pseudonym for the writers Richard Butler and Henry Chance Newton. The score was composed by Meyer Lutz, Ivan Caryll, Hamilton Clarke, Tito Mattei, G. ...
'' (1886), ''
Miss Esmeralda'' (1887), ''
Frankenstein, or The Vampire's Victim
''Frankenstein, or The Vampire's Victim'' (sometimes called ''Frankenstein, or The Model Man'') is a musical burlesque written by Richard Henry (a pseudonym of Richard Butler and Henry Chance Newton). The music was composed by Meyer Lutz. The ...
'' (1887), ''
Faust up to Date
''Faust up to Date'' is a musical burlesque with a score written by Meyer Lutz (a few songs by others were interpolated into the show). The libretto was written by G. R. Sims and Henry Pettitt. It is a spoof of Gounod's opera, ''Faust'', which ...
'' (1888), ''
Ruy Blas and the Blasé Roué
''Ruy Blas and the Blasé Roué'' is a Victorian burlesque, burlesque written by A. C. Torr and Herbert F. Clark with music by Meyer Lutz. It is based on the Victor Hugo drama ''Ruy Blas''. The piece was produced by George Edwardes. As with man ...
'' (1888), ''
Carmen up to Data
''Carmen up to Data'' is a musical burlesque with a score written by Meyer Lutz. The piece was a spoof of Bizet's 1875 opera ''Carmen''. The libretto was written by G. R. Sims and Henry Pettitt.
After a tryout in Liverpool in September 1890, the ...
'' (1890), and ''
Cinder Ellen up too Late
''Cinder Ellen up too Late'' is a musical Victorian burlesque, burlesque written by Frederick Hobson Leslie (writing under the pseudonym A. C. Torr) and W. T. Vincent, with music arranged by Meyer Lutz from compositions by Lionel Monckton, Sidney ...
'' (1891). Gilbert himself had written a series of burlesques of opera early in his career, including ''
Robert the Devil
Robert the Devil () is a legend of medieval origin about a Norman knight who discovers he is the son of Satan. His mother, despairing of heaven's aid in order to obtain a son, had asked for help from the devil. Robert's satanic instincts propel h ...
'' (1868), which was the Gaiety's first burlesque.
John Hollingshead
John Hollingshead (9 September 1827 – 9 October 1904) was an English theatrical impresario, journalist and writer during the latter half of the 19th century. After a journalism career, Hollingshead managed the Alhambra Theatre and was later th ...
had managed the Gaiety Theatre from 1868 to 1886 as a venue for variety, continental
operetta
Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, length of the work, and at face value, subject matter. Apart from its s ...
, light comedy, and numerous musical burlesques arranged by the theatre's music director, Wilhelm Meyer Lutz. Hollingshead called himself a "licensed dealer in legs, short skirts, French adaptations,
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
, taste and musical glasses."
[Arthur Lloyd Music Hall site (on Gaiety) ''Cuttings'']
accessed 1 Mar 2007 In 1886, Hollingshead ceded the management of the theatre to
George Edwardes
George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond.
Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...
, whom he had hired in 1885.
Nellie Farren
Ellen "Nellie" Farren (16 April 1848 – 29 April 1904) was an English actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in musical burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre.
Born into a theatrical family, Farren began acting as a ch ...
, as the theatre's "principal boy", and
Fred Leslie
Frederick George Hobson, known as Fred Leslie (1 April 1855 – 7 December 1892), was an English actor, singer, comedian and dramatist.
Beginning his career in operetta, Leslie became best known for starring in, and writing (under the pseudony ...
starred at the Gaiety for over 20 years. In the early 1890s, as burlesque went out of fashion, Edwardes changed the focus of the theatre from musical burlesque to the new genre of
Edwardian musical comedy
Edwardian musical comedy was a form of British musical theatre that extended beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions, beginning in the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the A ...
.
''Galatea or Pygmalion Re-Versed'' is a parody of
W.S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most f ...
's blank verse romantic play ''
Pygmalion and Galatea''. ''
The Morning Post
''The Morning Post'' was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by ''The Daily Telegraph''.
History
The paper was founded by John Bell. According to historian Robert Darnton, ''The Morning Po ...
'' described the piece as "A short burlesque of Mr. Gilbert's classic drama in which Miss Mary Anderson is now delighting the public at the Lyceum."
["The Gaiety", ''The Morning Post'', 27 December 1883, p. 5] It was the second item in a double bill with the three-act comedy ''The Rocket'' by
Arthur Wing Pinero
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May 185523 November 1934) was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor.
Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a supp ...
.
[ Songs arranged or composed for the piece by Meyer Lutz included "The Masher King" (Pygmalion), "The Bashful Maiden" (Myrine) and "The Modern Swell" (Galatea).][
]
Synopsis
The plot turns on its head the plot of Gilbert's ''Pygmalion and Galatea'', which involves a married sculptor who falls in love with his statue, Galatea. When the statue comes to life, her very innocence leads to complications. The following synopsis of ''Galatea, or Pygmalion Reversed'' was printed in '' The Era'':
The title will perhaps suggest that in this instance Galatea is the sculptor and Pygmalion the statue – the ideal man endowed with life and able to toddle, though a very earnest appeal to the "gods" perched up aloft in the gallery. The living statue is very angular in movement, and its face is not exactly handsome; but Pygmalion with his first breath becomes filled up with vanity. He exclaims with rapture, "How beautiful I am!" and given a hand-mirror he seems never tired of gazing upon his own loveliness, and of breaking forth into ecstatic song with, "Just look at that and look at this." Pygmalion is a classical masher. He "mashes" not only Galatea who made him, but Myrine and Daphne, who, bewitched by his manly beauty, give the "cold shoulder" to their respective and respectable husbands, Cyniscos, Leucippe and Chrysos, who, being thereby enraged, resolve not to mash, but to smash Pygmalion and to begin by chipping him. This treatment of course soon inclines Pygmalion to return to his old position, and then peace and happiness are restored.
Roles and original cast
*Galatea – Nellie Farren
Ellen "Nellie" Farren (16 April 1848 – 29 April 1904) was an English actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in musical burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre.
Born into a theatrical family, Farren began acting as a ch ...
*Myrine – Miss C. Gilchrist
*Daphne – Maud Taylor
*Pygmalion – Edward Terry
*Cyniscos – W. Elton
*Chrysos – E. J. Henley
*Leucippe – Phyllis Broughton
*Mimos – Miss E. Broughton
*Agesimos – Miss M. Watson
*Pyrrha, Chloe, Myrrha, Lesbia, Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta – Misses M. Ross, P. Watson, Handley, Dupré, B. Matiste, P. Matiste, Chester and Overington [''The Era'', 29 December 1883, p. 3]
Critical reception
''The Era'' was not impressed, calling the piece, "A very tame affair. Mr Stephens seems to have had a funny idea, but has not funnily put it into shape."[ Other papers took a more favourable view. ''The Morning Post'' called it "this amusing burlesque". '' The Standard'' thought that although the plot "lacks both interest and variety", Edward Terry was "convulsively funny" as Pygmalion.'' Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper'' wrote, "The burlesque is not remarkable for its jokes, though they are plentiful. It affords opportunity for a good laugh and is a capital skit on the original."][''Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper'', 30 December 1883, p. 3]
Notes
References
* Adams, William Davenport.
''A dictionary of the drama''"> ''A dictionary of the drama''
(1904) Chatto & Windus
* Hollingshead, John. ''Good Old Gaiety: An Historiette & Remembrance'' (1903) London:Gaity Theatre Co
*
{{Pygmalion navbox
Musicals by Meyer Lutz
1883 musicals
West End musicals
Musicals based on secular traditions
Works based on Pygmalion from Ovid's Metamorphoses