The San Francisco call., 1908-03-06
THIS SHAW PLAY
IS VERY FRANK
Nothing Left to the Imagination
in the Production of Mrs.
Warren's Profession"
Principal Characters Are Well
Portrayed by Mary Shaw
and Miss Pettes
CAST OF CHARACTERS
In George Bernard shaw's Plav.
Mrs. Warren'S Profession
BY Walter Anthony

10 say that Mrs. Warren's Profes-
sto- is no worse than Camille" viii
not justify either play Shaws drama.
or comedy, or socialistIc lecture illus
trated. or whatever he pleases TO call
his work, was presented last night AT
the Van Ness theateV. and society was
there 10 see how Mrs. Warren behaved
The play which is said 10 be Shaw's
very best. is not without power as such
Il is certainly wei put up. and its
climax rests naturally at the top of
the third act. There Is posed before
the audience q real issue or that there
can be no doubt Mrs Warren. though
a bad woman and member Of the old
est profession IN the world, is still z
good mother She loves her daughter,
even though she admits there is some
doubt as 70 the paternal parentage Of
the child This is frankly disclosed to
you, the girls uncomfortable social
position is set frankly in the fore
ground. Mrs. Warren has been and is
s bad woman For her daughter. how
ever, she desired something better; she
wanted her. at least. 10 be lady
That's why Mrs. Warren sends her 10
college and has her reared in scenes Of
refinement and luxury.
The girl. Vivie Warren. learns the
source OF the money which keeps her IN
icleuess and, having fmbibed ideas with
her schooling. refuses TO be the re-
cipient Of funds from the wages Of sin.
Mrs. Warren pleads IN vain, tells the
Eordid story OF her own wrongs besides
ErtCUlsting many Of the preachments
Of the author Of the play who talks
everlong through her on socialism, but
al 10 no avail The girl in the final
act sends her mother about her busi-
ness, and goes 10 work in q lawyers
o6ce earning her own way in the
world
Il seems 70 me as though II IS all
very great to-d0 over very small
quantity Of dramatic material What
there is. Shaw makes use of spleudidly
when he isn't Iecturing. and Miss Mary
Shaw. who played Mrs. Warren. is
surely magnetic, convincing and sincere
in her unusual role
The last act scene was tragic ii spite
r the mere palimpsest Of plot The
mother. aroused In her, was pOignsntly
real She lowered between the coarse
ness which was at the bottom Of her
nature. ard tile rednements she had as
sumed-for her daughters sake-with
1fc skiil of great actress Miss Pettes.
who played FiVie. the daughter was
admirable opposite ber
TIE rest of the members OF the east
Were clouded h1 the prosninence Of the
tEo women characters. but acquitted
"a tt-f-t- ltAALitA Aittl L1-AA 4Nlr1
satisfactorily.
There is nothing suggestive about
the play. IL is. ou the contrary, very
frank. About al that is left TO your
Imagination in the dialogue is what,
after all. the author is getting at He
breaches thar Mrs Warren was right
in choosing tile life she did 10 one in
q factory. and through Vivie he teaches
that spe wasn't The sadness and
hesrtsche 50 vividlv portrayed by Miss
Shaw when the girl tells her (Mrs.
Wa-ren) that their paths must sepa-
raEe were = vivid realization Of q Ger
tain truth which concerns old fashioned
notions about purity in women. the
ssuctity - home and the inviolability
of the marriage vow.
u seems certain that Mrs. Warren's
Profession" viii prove interesting 10
theater goers. The largest audience
during fhe present engagement was on
hand last night TO listen 10 Shaws
smart and witty lines and 10 witness
the casts very excellent acting.