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"Why Can't The English" . . . Learn To Get Along?: Musical Reinforcement Of Negative Personal Characteristics In My Fair Lady, Gretchen Hundling

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Although the matter of adaptation is a delicate one, a majority of Shaw's original work is retained in My Fair Lady--over half of the show is the original Pygmalion script (Lerner Street 23). With the exception of the altered ending, almost all of Shaw's poke at English society is intact. But in this case, the songs of the musical serve an even greater function than just relaying what is on the characters' minds when the orchestra starts to play. The characters of this show are sometimes lovable, yet often detestable, for a great deal of their negative issues and …