European play Pygmalion

During our second project meeting held at Waltershausen, Germany, in April 2010, pupils present together performed a play, all pupils speaking their mother tongues.

Uwe Adam, teacher working at the host school Salzmannschule, is in charge of this activity.

Katrin Klatt, German and Latin teacher also at Salzmannschule, wrote the play.

Each participating school first rehearsed its specific scene at school.

Scenes 1-7 German

Scene 2 Italian

Scene 3, played by the Spanish

Scene 4 Greek

Scene 5, played by the French

Scene 6 Dutch

Next, in April, they rehearsed together during specific workshops.

Finally they performed at Salzmannschule’s big hall.

Here’s the summary of the plot:

Pygmalion, an antique sculptor, is desperate. His wife has left him recently. So he is alone with his servant Ganymed. He is very sad, so he finally decides to create his own perfect woman. He doesn’t eat and drink anymore because he only wants to work. His servant is worried about that. One evening Ganymed is sitting in a pub and drinking wine. When he is drunk he tells a salesman, Mydas, about his master´s work, which actually has to be a secret. The salesman is curious and wants to buy this sculpture. So he visits Pygmalion. Pygmalion is very angry with his servant and doesn´t want to talk to him anymore. He has fallen in love with his wonderful sculpture Galathee, his only wish is to be with her. Amor, the God of Love, reinforces his wishes so that Pygamlion finally asks Amor´s mother, Venus, to help him. But she has one condition. Pygmalion must forgive his servant Ganymed. Then Galathee will be alive. At first Pygmalion says ’No’, but finally Galathee and he become a happy couple.

From: Ovid Metamorphoses X.238-297