Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-09
CANDIDA IS A
SUPERB OFFERING
BELASCoC0MPANYACTS SHAW
PLAY DELIGHTFULLY."-
Whatever Ones Opinion May Be Of Its
Symbolism, so-calLed, II Is a Great
Dramatic Treat, and the
Cast Is Superb
BY wLLIAM HAMILTON CLINE

Just why George Bernard Shaw
wrote "Ca ndlda," through which the
Belasco co mpany last night gave Los
Angeles it's first view of the Shavinian
drama, he has never consented to tell.
Just what he meant by the play, If
anything, he, has been equally reticent
in divulging, save in a single instance,
which was as remarkably cryptic
graphic as any believe Candida to
be.
For that one flash of enlightenment
came about through another Shaw play,
"You Can Never Tell" wherein, with
both title and action, he had fun most
decorously and deliciously with him
self, with Candida" and with the dear
public, which has read so much into
this very simple drama. Yet how far
Mr.. Shaw wished the aforesaid public
to take seriously his satire on himself,
his play and itself and how far he
really elucidated the (supposedO secret
motif of Candida" is a moot question;
one which as to answer it is still every
one for himself.
As Shaw is undoubtedly man of
brains and of a wit far too keen not
to enjoy the situation thus created, and
as he is well known for his love of
poking fun at his SNUG following, it is
certain that the true inwardneSS and
psychological significance of Can
dida"-if it have any-will remain un-
divulged on his part for all time to
come; and that the public, dear and
otherwise. may blame upon the play
any meanings seen fit for all he cares;
he will still sit by and snicker in his
sleeve in manner as Mephistophelian
as is his countenance.
The present writer. who has read and
studied Candida" and has seen it
played-and likewise with its purported
key, You Can Never Tell'-is of the
candid opinion that Shaw in writing
it put into it naught of the undercur-
rent which his followers profess to find
there. But, having discovered that in
advertently he had done a "tremen-
dously profound and erudite" bit of
symbolism $50 he was told), he, being
cynical withal, sardonic and shrewd as
well as clever, and having the financial
sense well developed, let the soulful
sighers over the uncanny rave on, the
while he saw his pen-child grow stu
pendously in favor and himself decided
ly in vogue and wealth.
Then when pressure became unpleas-
ant he hammered out his ''reply''-if
such it be-by the form already noted
("You Can Never TellO, burlesquing
most merrily all three factors, and
again lay back and laughed-and
counted his shekels.
That is my opinion, and I have the
support of many true Shavfnians who
have given the subject more study than
/ have. However it is only an opinion,
and is put forth as such most humbly.
The iconoclastic Shaw himself, never
having ventured to solve the riddle of
Candida" provided there be one, an
obscure scribe would not be foolish
enough to do so for him. But at least
/ may be honest in recording my own
11d q Tn q c n ohnNrn CT fn1
Analyze the drama and see if it be
not reasonable. Candida is the wife of
the Rev Mr.. Morrell, a prig, who, like
most clergymen, is so far above earth
that he hath little acquaintance with
and less observation of things num-
dane. Comes to live with them one
Marchbanks, a mollycoddle poet, whom
she takes under her wing and mothers.
He, aroused out of his mornings. gives
vent to unholy passions. at which she
laughs. Her husband, informed of the
state of affairs by the usual intermed-
dlers, does not talk of vengeance or
divorce, but contemplates a mawkish
suicide. Then at the Crucial point
Candida, ever sane and level-headed
outwardly. albeit possibly bad at heart,
turns the poet out o. doors with new
hopes and aspirations in his weak soul,
the while she shows her husband not
only what a fool he has become with
his insane jealousy, but how unappre-
ciative of her own pure self he has
been!
Now, there may be those who read