Shavian Scraps

Word is filtering along the grapevine in the market-place that Michael the Bush Arranger is being tempted by the Thespian call once again. He is considering a role in "My Fair Lady", a musical which the cognoscenti are aware was painfully extracted from George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" . Shaw, an irascible Irish wit, was a master of the subtlety of Language and was a caustic observer of the foibles of Society. It is to be hoped that the players will do justice to his words as they sing and dance, taking the advice offered to Eliza by Professor Higgins.
" Remember that you are a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech; that your native language is the language of Shakespeare and Milton and the Bible; and don't sit crooning like a bilious pigeon. "


Although they may strenuously deny it, authors' characters frequently mirror the attitudes and beliefs of their creators. In "Man and Superman" , Shaw says, "Hell is full of musical amateurs; music is the brandy of the damned". I wonder what he would have thought of "My Fair Lady" ?
Another of his statements may answer that question. "If Pygmalion is not good enough for your friends with its own verbal music, their talent must be altogether extraordinary ".


I like Shaw, but have one major concern. He gave ammunition to the Philistines when he wrote " He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches ". I suppose if I look at it long enough, I may be able to squeeze a compliment out of that, but I don't really think so.