Pygmalion and Galatea (play) Pygmalion and Galatea (play) Pygmalion and Galatea, an Original Mythological Comedy is a blank verse play by W. S. Gilbert in three acts based on the Pygmalion story. It opened at the Haymarket Theatre in London on 9 December 1871 and ran for a very successful 184 performances. It was revived many times, including an 1883 production in New York starring Mary Anderson as Galatea, an 1883–84 revival at the Lyceum Theatre, again with Anderson, and an 1888 production at the Lyceum Theatre, with Julia Neilson as Cynisca. "Pygmalion" was Gilbert's greatest success to that date and is said to
Theatre Royal Haymarket S. Leigh and Arthur Sketchley). Gilbert followed this with a number of his blank verse "fairy comedies", the first of which was "The Palace of Truth" (1870), produced by Buckstone. These starred William Hunter Kendal and his wife Madge Robertson Kendal and also included "Pygmalion and Galatea" (1871), and "The Wicked World" (1873). Gilbert also produced here his dramas, "Charity" (1874), "Dan'l Druce, Blacksmith" (1876), and his most famous play outside of his Savoy Operas, "Engaged", an 1877 farce. Buckstone's ghost has reportedly often been seen at the theatre, particularly during comedies and "when he appreciates things" playing there. In