New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-10

By HAYWOOD BROUN.

When George Bernard Show devised
"Major Barbara" he also wrote re-
view to go with it. 1t is called First
Aid to Critics" and would run through
about twenty columns Of The New York
Tribune if printed in full. However,
since it is part of the duty of review
err to tell what a play IS about we see
no reason why we should not let
George, the critic, do it.
"In the millionaire Undershaft," says
Shaw. IL have represented man who
has become intellectually and spiritual.
~ as well as practically conscious OF
the irresistible natural truth when we
all abhor and repudiate, to-wlt, that
the greatest of evils and the worst oil
crimes is poverty, and that our hrsst
duty-aduty to which every other consid-
GRAFTON should be sacrifced-is not 10
be poor"
Mr.. Shaw suggests later in his re-
view that "poor but honest" is as IN
tolerable and immoral as drunken but
amiable." or fraudulent but good
after-dinner speaker" and IN the play
Andrew Undershaft specifies the seven
deadly sins as food clothing, trlng,
rent, taxes, respectability and child
rem"
Andrew Undershaft is a munitions
maker. and his twin deities are money
and cannon. The play pits his re-
ligion against that of his daughter bar
bara. who is q major in the salvation
Army, and the gospel Of guns prevails
At any rate, it is established that tine
way Of life lies through the factory OF
death" Freedom. Major Barbara hnds,
cannot exist without power Inc SaiNa-
tion Army itself depends on the money
of the distiller and the gunmaker;,
major Barbara" has never been
played in this country, although 1t was
written more than ten years ago. IL 10
interesting and unusually eloquentsand
undoubtedly it would have reached me
American stage before this but for the
fact that it is too long. The play has
been cut somewhat by Miss George out
It is still a bit out of hand.
Naturally il is technically peryerse'
The opening of the play in particular
is almost ingeniously dull, and the au-
thor probably took considerable delight
in throwing suspense overheard be.
tween the first and second scenes OF
the last act. Barring the first few min
utes the characters talk well enough 10
compel interest, and the play has many
moments Of dramatic intensity.
The second act, which is laid in the
COURTYARD of a Salvation Army shelter,
Is particularly effective. II is impos-
sible to put a Salvation Army band into
a PLAY without bringing q thrill into be
ing. and this band swings into action
at Just the proper moment. II fell
shade short Of the theatrical effective
ness Of the band in Sheldon's saliva
ton Nell" but it provides vibrating
interlude just the same. All IN ALL
Major Barbara" is the most effective
dramatic treatment Of the Salvation
Army which we have ever seen. Shaw'
with extraordinary felicity, has been
able 10 combine satire and sympathy
The strength of the Army and It's weak-
ness are displayed simultaneously. we
- cant and sincerity walking arm IN
arm. and they are boon companions,
but Shaw has not the slightest DIM
Guilty in seeing and in letting his au-
dience know which is which.
There are better Shaw plays than
"Major Barbara" but the piece has
sanity and substance which makes ~
the most worth while thing produced
by Miss Grace George this season.
Later it may be the best acted. IN
fortunately reviews are written on the
basis of first night performances, ana
there was much that was bad In the
production last night. Lack OF krowI-
edge of lines may be mere mechani-
cal flaw, soon be remedied, but II Is
nonstrous TO see a Shaw character
gasping for q word when the play
wright has provided him with so many.
Louis Calvert offended on several
occasions and his mistakes marred hic
performance nightly. Undershaft con
ouers every one else in the play be
cause he Is always sure Of himself.
He has a dozen arguments and reasons
TO annih.late any one who opposes him,
and Calvert's uneasiness in the part
last night therefore, was extremely
disconcerting. Ernest Lawford sGppe
I'D once or twice, but the errors made
far less difference with him. A pro
lessor Of Greek might be pardoned
absent mindedness denied TO a maker
Of munitions.
Grace George, ho' ever, was at her
best. Her Major .bara is an excel
lent piece OF work II might be added
some what irrelevantly that her Sal
walton Army costume becomes her bet
ter than anything she has worn this
season. In her best scene she received
stanch support from Conway Tearle.
His Bill Walker was a delight and the
play between himself and Miss George
admirable throughout.
John Cromwell, who did not particu-
larly distinguish himself in either OF
the earlier productions at the Play
house. was exceedingly well cast "a
Charles Lomax and made much Of the
part. Ernest Lawford gave an interest
ing performance and Arthur Eldred did
well as Snobby Price.