Pygmalion & Galatea
by Joseph M. Barat

Cast
APHRODITE - The Goddess of Love (also the narrator)
PYGMALION - A sculptor and woman-hater/ later, lover of Galatea
GALATEA - A Statue

(Enter APHRODITE, PYGMALION & GALATEA (as statue)

Aphrodite: Pygmalion was a young sculptor of Cyprus.
He detested the faults beyond measure which nature had given to women.
He was a woman-hater. (dirty look from PYGMALION)
He swore never to marry (yeah, right). His art was all he needed.
Nevertheless, the statue he made was a woman.

Pygmalion: Zeus created Pandora as a revenge on Man,
And so it is with all women.
I seek no woman but of my own fashion.

(works on the statue using a centerfold as a blueprint)

Aphrodite: So Pygmalion labored long hours and days
To produce an exquisite work of art.
And even then he continued to work it
Until he perfected the art of concealing art:
No one would have thought the statue was ivory or stone,
But warm and living flesh, frozen for a moment in time.
And it was so beautiful, I may even dare say I was jealous. (bitch)
But in that moment of achievement, the sex he’d scorned had their revenge:
He had fallen in love - heh, heh, heh!

Pygmalion: Bless these hands!
No gods could have created more beauty with their own!
Every woman would pale when compared to you!
To you . . .
But you cannot hear this praise.
I now feel what I could not
For any woman!
And there’s no heart in your stone bosom to appreciate this passion!

Aphrodite: He kissed those enticing lips
- they could not kiss him back.
He caressed her hands, her cheek
- there was no response.
He took her in his arms
-she was cold and rigid.
He brought her gifts;
Jewelry, flowers, clothes (Pygmalion produces jewelry, flowers, and lingerie)
He named her Galatea.
He loved a lifeless thing
And was hopelessly wretched.

Pygmalion: Alas!

Aphrodite: (moving to an altar decorated for Aphrodite, she takes up a chalice of wine or grapes left as an offering, and lounges out on a throne behind it)
Then time brought Cyprus to my favorite holiday:
The Feast of Aphrodite! (go figure)
Hopeless lovers filled my temples,
Petitioning that I would soften the hard hearts of those they loved.
And with them came Pygmalion.

(PYGMALION kneels before the altar with APHRODITE behind it, basking in his praise)

Pygmalion: Aphrodite, born of the sea
Sweet Goddess of Love, I entreat thee
Bring me a living lady to equal my creation
Make her my statue’s emulation
This petition I light to thee (lights candle)

Bring this desired love to me!
Aphrodite: A statue, huh?
You kinky little satyr!
I thought I’d seen it all!
- But I can’t resist the passion in his heart
This is a new challenge. A new kind of love
But he doesn’t want what he asks for.
I know what he wants!
I’ll answer his heart’s petition.

(APHRODITE leaves the altar and returns to GALATEA and sprinkles rose petals on her while PYGMALION does the following:)

Pygmalion: What? Do I see the candle flame leap?
My prayer is heard!

(PYGMALION returns to GALATEA)

Aphrodite: Pygmalion returned to his love.
He caressed her . . .

Pygmalion: (starting) Do I feel warmth from your skin?

Aphrodite: He kissed her . . . (PYGMALION kisses GALATEA.)

Pygmalion: Your lips are soft!

Aphrodite: He felt her-

(PYGMALION reaches for GALATEA’S chest)

Galatea: Hey!

Aphrodite: -pulse . . .

Pygmalion: (snaps his fingers as if to say, "darn", then feels GALATEA’S wrist)
Blood flows through this form!
This is the Goddess’ doing!
Oh, thank you, Aphrodite!

Aphrodite: No sweat, (checking out her nails)
I didn’t even brake a nail!

(PYGMALION embraces GALATEA. APHRODITE stll distracted and buffing her nails.)

Pygmalion: AH-HEM!

Aphrodite: Oh! -He embraced her
And her face blushed and presented a smile
Her eyes blinked and moved
And she embraced him back.
I graced their marriage with my presence
(PYGMALION picks up GALATEA and walks off with her in his arms)
And they named their son after my favorite city,
Damn, I’m good.
(Exit APHRODITE. )

© Copyright 1997 by Devyn