Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16
LII kinds of Bernard Shaw were
on view In Washington last
"a week: professional. non-pro-
fessional. comical. farcical.

week. PROFESSIONAL, noh-pro-
fessional, comical. farcical.
literary and severely practi-
cal Though most prominent in public
attention as q playwright and vege-
tartan, Mr.. Shaw Is first Of all press
agent. He talks about himself most de-
s lfxftfully. He disdains the services OF q
fellow litterateur, who might develop
count and organize syndicate after
syndicate of mannikins whom he desig-
mates as casts of character, whose sole
business It is to get out before the
footfights and talk about Mr.. Shaw
Mr. Shaw is the original merger.
Each of the characters in his play is
busily engaged in exploiting some OF
the ideas which have been grouped I'M
der the designation "Shavian." Mis-
alliance exhibits a new group OF
characters saying the same old things
designed to uplift the reputation OF
Mr.. Shaw as a protester against so
ciety as 1t happens to be constituted.
1t shows the same marvellous facliey
as Mr.. Shaw's other plays IN Demon
strattng how delightfully."- very simple
theme may be elaborated. This prolinc
author has declared himself from time
to time a socialist. The word Shavian
combined with the term socialist has
led to some inclination to regard MT.
Shaw as philosopher and man
whose ideas contributed suggestion as
to the organization of society on
more satisfactory working basis As a
matter of fact he offers no hint that
mas found popular interest as to the
constitution of governmental sys-
tenn which will prevent men from rob
bling, insulting and even assassinatins
one another.
The mainsprings of sentiment for his
plots are as usual as their mechanism.
the moral being always to the erect
that one man is as good as anotneI,
jackdaws strut In peacock feathers
and many an honest heart beats I'M
der a ragged jacket. He gets away
from the trite assumption that virtue
10 always triumphant by disdaining
any exhibition of interest in the aues-
ton of whether virtue as an innate
human quality actually exists, ana ne
frolics through the vocabulary In
spirit of responsibility that leaves
his marionettes with no particular
function. except to filch from the press
agent his little share of histrionic I'M
portance. These marionettes. his char
acters. speak only with their masters
voice and extol from the stage
over and. over the cerebral mag
niflcence of G. Bernard. 1t is un-
usual; positively unique. He establish
es no artistic standards. not even for
his own work. .'Misalliance. though
q literary comedy, whose types are
those of intellectual droHery and not
physical grotesqueness. is broadened IN
the presentation until 1t becomes
veritable farce. Mr.. Shaw does not
care any more than Eva Tanguay does.
Any avenue to publicity is to him a
welcome thoroughfare. He Will nego-
tiafe with the president of the Pump
kintown Lyceum for the production of
one of his plays as readily and as
earnestly as with the most opuient
metropolitan manager. His industry
has been rewarded, for while his audi
enee for each individual play may not
be exceptionally large, his audience in
the aggregate Is enormous.
= - -
Chauncey Olcott unfolded the senti-
mental traditions of Ireland and en-
bellished them with the songs that he
not the same old songs in words and
music. yet they are the same old songs
In effect. as typical of their singer as
are the songs of Harry Lauder him
self All the plots and all the acting
that Chauncey Oicott has brought to
bear on his performances have not suf-
Heed to overshadow the simple songs
which now and then halt the action of
the play.
The present demand is for music.
8 T. Poll has recognized this fact and
will put into his Washington theater
= muelcdl organization WHICH even at
this early moment has proved itself
worthy of the press agents most
vQluminous and incorporating adj
! miration. The press agent is a prophet
doomed to labor anonymously and ex-
haust himself in te1epathic feats which
enable him to deiineate with dazzling
IuxuriAnce of language the glories of
an entertainment which he has never
actually beheld. He is prophet. but
not without honor in his country. for
even when playwright and performer
prove delinquent, he may be relied on
for q display of photography. syntax
and etymology that will soothe the
senses and impress the imagination.
The theater would know no failures il
every show were as good as its press
agent.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.