Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18

vw ~R George Bernard Shaw is
~ IN reformer who has realized re-
NE suits. He has not preached into
L IL empty air for the mere sa'is-
faction of thrilling to the rever-
berance OF echoes that he has himself awah-
ened Last Monday night one OF the mem
hers Of the audience was a man VINO Is VI
dlnarily tlrnld about expressing MS VIEWS
even when his manifest rights are con-
cerned. The frankness of John Tanner IN
spired him. His freedom and positiVeness
~ expression set up a noble ideal when
he resolved to initiate After the second
act he rushed into the air TO cool the ar
dor Of his admiration. He was fulI OF
determination hencefOrth to speak MS nlHo
promptly and positively whatever might Ne
the topic and whom so ere the audltor' On
the n7vemept he encountered an old-time
debtor Full of the enthusiasm Of the mo-
ment he bIurted out Look here, you
have owed me 80 for the last eighteen
months. and I want you to pay It," The
astonished man reached into his poo ket ana
produced the cash.
This incident is narrated less lot its own
sake than because of the Interest which
attaches 20 IL as the only case on record
where Mr.. George Bernard Shaw has fur
nished "a suggestion Of practical value to
anybody.
But what q privilege it would be to live
in such conversational atmosphere as
that which Man and Superman presents.
I, is so extremely bright and interesting
lhat it becomes abnormal. Il is "a sort OF
heaven which Mr. Shaw has dreamed out
for himself. nothing like it is possible in
real life. for it would take several gener-
at.ous 90 produce as many people sapient,
sparkling and alert as this prodigal author
crowded into a single play. The broadness
OF Man and Superman' gives little public
o1onse. The greatest ingenuity has been
displayed In discussing subjects OIL the ut
most iudeucacy. so adroit is the circumio-
cutiou employed that one goes Any with
the impression that he has been listening to
something downright scientific. Analysis
discIoses clearly that it is not. on the con-
trUry 1t is downright otherwise.
50
Something of Mr.. shaw's rem BILE ca
reer is jypihed in the character OF John
Tanner. Ins very officious yoclg man
deems it his mission TO scoi4 and lecture
every body. and 10 contradict all the rules
under which society has hitherto proceed
ed. Mr. Tanner scolds ana protests in
way that is generally picturesque, get
ting himself ueedlessly d.slked sHd at
times coming Very close TO boius nuisance
But ue .s never t uJ.e Ih-s Is A-s saw
ing grace. And in the end he makes an ut
ter caItJiauOu 10 the most ordinary of
conventions Ar. Shaw as play critic has
probably protested against uear.y every
one of the features of this performance of
Man and Supermlu most responsible for
its success lie uttered his art protests
directly or iuterenuaIIy in screed after
scrged and play af-er play with unayaiiing
e.oqueuce until he was finally gathered in
bv a life force or something or other and
compelled to put his plays together with
elaborate scenic possibilities mechanical
effects and "a wedding in the last act just
like any ordinary dramdJist. 1t is true
that Mir Shaw continues to protest a lit
tie buy the public, like Ann in the last
act looks him IN the eye and says, Dear
George. go on talk.ng!" Right or wrong,
sincere or trlhiuE, there is nothing more
enjoyable than talk as Mr.. Shaw talks IT.
But theater establishment was essential.
The playGoer has all of HamIet's suspicion
OF words. Too much credit cannot be given
for the manner of presenting Man and
superuan The company is as near
~ 4iliN4fo7 ia as WIN % e'-AS N'4tN~
has been seen in seasons. There IS
the little touch Of spontaneity that gives
vitality and human interest 10 each word
that is spoken. The automobile which is
run 10y means Of little steam pipe con-
nected with the engine room Of the theater
Is quite as admirable. though not so noisy
a mechanical effect as the fire engine in
Harry Lacy's "Sul Alarm or the buzz
saw ia Blue Jeans" And the scenery is Of
the sort which is usually described by the
enthusiastic advance representatives as re-
quiring several railway cars for Its trans
pOrtatiOu
Richard Mansfield, although in some sense
George Bernard Shaws discoyerer. did not
foresee the success he would be tanned
playwright. Indeed. MI. Mansfield appears
to have regarded the task of tanning him as
hopeless il IS related that he once said in
q moment of evaporation. Il want the
best plays obtainable. l must have them.
But why need they be written by George
Bernard Shawn" The plays Of his that
Mr. Mansfield had-"Arms and the Man
and The Devils DISCIPLE although bril-
liant and entertaining, have no such popu-
lar appeal as that presented by Man and
Superman' Mr.. Mansfield perceived the
merits or MI ShaWs work, but did not
possess the courage of his convictions
which would have enabled him to secure
this. the best Of his plays.
=
It would be interesting to know whether
Mr. Robert Lorraine is initiating Mr. Arnold
DAILY or whether Mr. Arnold DAILY IS mi
tating Lorraine. or whether both have been
rehearsed by the author in that queer little
duck and nod OF bow they both give in
response 10 a curtain call.
Mr.. Shaw is another OF the paywrights
who do not look the part. Judged from the
intimate knowledge OF the social world that
his dialogue displays and the facility with
which he depicts fashion and frivolity. he
IL. L. IL. .