Meredith snagged the lead role–Eliza– in her senior class play. Pygmalion! The whole cast was excited, looking forward to rehearsals, costumes, and, they hoped, crowds of people.
Meredith memorized tons of lines. A poor Cockney girl, Eliza became the subject of an experiment to change her into a lady of society who would fool all the members of the Ton. And she succeeded. At least, her instructor, Henry Higgins, succeeded.
Ultimately, she belonged nowhere. Her success in society was like a meteor flying across the heavens and disappearing.
Meredith considered her success as Eliza’s. Temporary.
Note: For those who may not know, Pygmalion was George Bernard Shaw’s play that was later to become the basis for the popular film My Fair Lady.
Pygmalion was a Greek mythological god who fell in love with one of his sculptures, which then came to life. The play has Henry Higgins “sculpting” Eliza into his own creation, but then Eliza falls in love with him, and there in lay the dilemma. The musical version has a happier ending 🙂
Better to have had that fleeting moment than to have not aimed high at all.
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Yes. The memory will always be special.
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Meredith seems an admirably well-adjusted and far-sighted person
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Thanks–that’s what I was shooting for 🙂
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Thanks for the origin story on My Fair Lady. It makes it all the better 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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This was a lovely take on the prompt. Smart girl!
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Thanks, Dale 🙂
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Great take on the prompt, and thanks for the background!
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Thanks, Russell. Almost everyone knows “MyFair Lady,” but not so many are aware of “Pygmalion.”
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I love when mythology is reworked for something new. Thanks for the explanation, it made your story richer.
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So glad you appreciated the background 🙂
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Wow! If somebody had suggested that Pygmalion could be summarised in 100 words, I would have doubted them. As it is, you do it as just a part of a bigger story. Wow!
I hope Meredith isn’t too level-headed for her own good, though. High school amateur dramatics are so exciting! I remember the thrill of my first performance even today, and that was well over 50 years ago!
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Thanks, Penny. I value your comments so much! You’re right about how exciting high school dramatics can be. I, too, made my debut over 50 years ago, and it’s a treasured memory. However, the path “Meredith” chose at her parent’s request turned out to be more rewarding than all the accolades of the theater:)
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🙂 xx
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the ancient greeks knew how to play the harp strings of the heart. Enjoyed your story as it reminded me of a time reading the books that others thought were good for me.
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Can I assume that you weren’t among those who thought those books were good for you?
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One of my favourite films ‘My Fair Lady.’ Nice to know the movies’ origin. I find the dilemma that when one creates to tries to mould to satisfies one’s desires, in reality, the outcome is unexpected. I loved the way you brought this to life in a senior class play. I guess at this age students are the most corrigible.
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Thanks, Susan. That’s a good observation. I’m sure there would have other girls who would have gone their own way, or at least tried to.
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Dear Linda,
Loved the play and the movie My Fair Lady. Interesting the way real life mirrors fiction in your story. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks so much, Rochelle. Writing about it brought back some wonderful memories for me 🙂
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I can just hear Meredith saying one of my favourite lines – ‘I washed me ‘ands before I come I did’! Delightful Linda.
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Thank you, Keith. Eliza is a delightful character, indeed.
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well, all is not lost. at least she has beautiful memories to live on.
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Yes. And she has lived quite happily 🙂
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Nice one. Meredith will probably savour her experience later on in life.
Wonder if the movie would have been a hit if the ending of Bernard Shaw’s play had been chosen instead of the movie’s happy ending.
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Not sure, but the whole movie was fairly upbeat,and an unhappy ending would have been a shock, I think.
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Lovely
And a character is a skin to inhabit for a short time… but the story lives on with every retelling
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I think this is for anyone climbing the social ladder, in the end there are so many more obstacles than just your language… life is so different from the play. The difference from the myth and the story is that you are getting closer to the female perspective.
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I’m not even familiar with “My Fair Lady,” but I’ve seen the premise elsewhere.
I like the story within the story. Meredith might be too cautious. It’s good to be aware that her success could be fleeting, but it could turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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“My Fair Lady” was a very big deal in the 60’s and 70’s, and I still love it today. You can easily find it online if you’re curious 🙂
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I looked it up. I love old movies and Audrey Hepburn, and I like the premise, but I can’t do musicals unless they’re ridiculously funny. To me, people breaking into musical numbers is absurd, and I can only accept it if it’s a goofy comedy.
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My husband says the same thing. I’m sure it’s not an uncommon reaction 🙂
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Ah, those moments. That’s what life’s about. Nice one.
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Lots going on here!
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I enjoyed this, knowing the story of Pygmalion, you told it very well
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