"Pyggy," the resident artist in a modern high-society spa, imitates his namesake, Pygmalion, the ancient Greek sculptor who created a gorgeous statue, named her Galatea, fell in love with her, and prayed to the gods to bring her to life. Pyggy creates his ideal sculpture by "borrowing" a perfect feature—an ear, a nose, etc.—from each of his models. He appropriately names her Galatea...and then the slumbering Olympian gods find out about this modern Galatea, and the excitement begins. The play is a brilliant commentary on the meaning of love. But this is a modern story; they don't live happily ever after.

Noted for his incisive analysis of human emotions and motivations, Ainsworth gives us a fresh view of love in this play. As he did in Persephone, the author takes age-old ideas and re-evaluates them in terms of modern life, producing a work of significance and universality. But above all, Ainsworth knows how to entertain. Farewell to Galatea tells the story of a young man who dreams of the ideal girl—and doesn't know what to do with her when his dream comes true.

One-act comedy; set in an artist studio; the present. For adults and young adults.

"We love this play! And so have our judges! Thanks, I. E. Clark & Ford Ainsworth!"—Kathi Stapp, Eastland, Texas, H. S.

Other Ainsworth plays: The Bridge, Charity Case, The River Between, The Sheep Thief (The Second Shepherd's Play)

See also: Personal Relationships