Question

The first New York production of "Pygmalion" in March 1914 was presented in which language?

• A. English
• B. German
• C. Yiddish
• D. Italian

Answer 1

Answer:

B. German

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

• Pygmalion is a celebrated play written by the Irish playwright and Nobel laureate George Bernard Shaw.
• The play is a comedic and satirical critique of the British class system, exploring themes of social mobility, language, and identity.
• Shaw received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925, partly in recognition of his powerful and idealistic works, including Pygmalion.
• The title is derived from the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his own creation.

The 1914 New York German Production

• The first New York production of Pygmalion, presented in March 1914, was indeed performed in German.
• This performance took place at the Irving Place Theatre, a prominent German-language theater in New York City known for showcasing European plays.
• At the time, prior to the outbreak of World War I, German culture and theater were highly influential and popular in the United States, especially in cities like New York with significant German immigrant populations.
• It was a common practice for plays by leading European dramatists to be translated and performed in German in the U.S. even before their English-language premieres in America.

Context of Pygmalion Premieres

• The absolute first performance of Pygmalion anywhere in the world was in German in Vienna, Austria, on October 16, 1913.
• The original English-language premiere occurred in London on April 11, 1914, starring Mrs. Patrick Campbell as Eliza Doolittle.
• The first American production in English opened later in New York on October 12, 1914, also featuring Mrs. Patrick Campbell.
• This sequence of premieres highlights the strong pre-World War I cultural ties and the significant role of German theater in introducing new European works to a global audience.

Legacy and Adaptations

• Pygmalion is most widely recognized today through its highly successful musical adaptation, My Fair Lady.
• My Fair Lady premiered on Broadway in 1956, with music by Frederick Loewe and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews.
• The 1964 film adaptation of My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
• The play's enduring appeal lies in its sharp dialogue, well-developed characters, and its insightful commentary on language, social class, and the challenges of personal transformation.