The Washington herald., 1915-12-19
THEATER TALK FROM new YORK
Bernard Shaw on Preparedness-He Gets
After: the Gun Makers Slaps the
Salvation Army Socialism la>
Hauptmann--- The Weavers
Not Play-Midnight
~ Frolics on Roof.
By. GEORGE 1EAN NATHANs.

New York. Dec: 1s-Theatrical nov
elites I'm >the fortnight preceding
Christmas are almost as rare as white
black birds. The pruden manager
knows better than to expose his wares
in competition with those of the shops
at time when Christmas buying gives
every one feeling of poverty. There
fore, Grace George has the theatrical
field almost completely to herself for
the first American production Of Mr..
George Bernard Shaw's Major Bar
bara-'
The play was presented once be-
fore with an American actress in the
title part. This was in London some
= ten years ago. and Annie Russell. who
happened to acquire the liking of Mr..
Shaw. also realized his ideal Of the
Salvation Army lassie who Is the hero
inc of the play. Judging by American
standards. the play had only partial
success in England. that Is to say, II
did not enjoy a very long run. 1t
was probably not presented with the
admirable cast Grace George provides.
although the principal male role was
assumed then as now by Louis Cal
vert.
shaw the Prophet.
In all of Mr. Shaw's plays he drives
At all sorts of things in his undeniably
willy eho ldSIiOh. Inc pol
ticular object of his luminosity in
Major Barbara" is the class of Eng
lish millionaires who make their
money from the manufacture of guns
and other munitions Of war. He per-
sonifies his target in the person of one
Andrew Undershaft, who is rich, and
from whose pores exudes the self
satisfaction that goes with wealth.
especially when the wealth Is owned
hx- calf haI se
unctuous and his self satisfaction
makes him complacent and indulgent
to the criticism that his method of
making money brings from most of
the other characters in the play
This gun-making millionaire has
two daughters. one of whom has
found her life mission in the Saliva
tion Army. AS result of a bargain.
the father visits the Salvation Army
barracks where she conducts her
work, in return for which she had the
rest Of his family pay their first visit
to the plant where he manufactures
guns. The comparison results entire
ly to the advantage of the gun
maker.
While he is at the barracks, Bar
bara. the Salvation daughter. has all
her ideals destroyed by seeing her su-
perior officer in the army gladly ac-
from the death-dealing Cun-maaker.
but also from soul-destroying and
also wealthy. whisky distiller. By COM
parison. she finds greater respect for
her father. his occupation and what
ever creed he has, when she visits his
factory and finds that the army of
uorkmen in his employ. as well as
their families. are carefully cared for
not only on the physical side. but also
In 1eCiSirnafa fol nd
intellectual uplift. OF course. this Is
peculiarly Shavian. He first makes a
target of the gun-maker for his death
dealing way of making money. which
also involved more or less political
corruption. and then turning about
face, he holds him up by compa rison
as superior to those whose business is
ostensibly the saving of souls.
Major Barbara" in its wit, its par
adoxes and iconoclasm ranks abreast
of Mr.. Shaw's other plays. In talki-
ness. Ii exceeds some of them. For
tunately for the author and his text,
long speeches and long discussions are
assigned to artists who are able to get
them over the footlights and into the
consciousness of the audience, even
an audience of the average theater-
going mentality. Done with less re-
gard TO this important matter. it is
to be feared hat Major Barbara"
would be a rather difficult play to sit
through.
Looks Like a Real Company.
This is the third of Grace Georges
productions. in accord with her ambi-
tion to create in New York a roper
tory company whose performances
should be of even quality in that every
part should be assigned to some one
of ability and the company rehearsed
with the eye mainly on general effect I,
and not on special exhibitions by indi- |
viduals. From the acting point of !
view. Major Barbara" is the best Of |
the plays she has produced. although |
the performing of the other two was |;
we'll above the general average of act |
ing and staging. She has not adhered |
TO the Hea OF confining her casts
strictly 10 any one set Of performers.
which is rather contrary to the stock !