The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-03-17

personal of arts, Mr.. Shaw's drama
may be defined as a revelation of Mr..
Shaw.
1t is IN characterization that the
mixture of truth and error in Mr..
Shaw is most conspicuous and aston
ishing. Mr.. Shaw has apparently
never been in contact with what we
Americans frankly call "a nice girl.
He has never even encountered a
young man whom he and the reader
can agree in calling attractive. We
find faithful, vivid and impartials de-
lineations Of characters who are for
tunate enough to lie within his range
Of experience. The new emancipated
woman so much in evidence in lbsen
goes in and out through Shaw's plays.
Shaw's favorite characters are audac-
ious, irreverent young men and women
without illusions and incapable of be-
ing shocked, but delighting in shock
ing their elders.
Mr.. Shaw is not born storyteller.
He tolerates plot as necessary evil.
There is no instance of strong story
evenly sustained. We find stories that
are merely weak situations mixed to-
gether, stories of great initial promise
travelling out in the end, stories shred
ded into mere incidents, stories too
scant for their, fame and eked out,
with superfuous characters or double
plots. Shaw's first acts are usually
best, best because in his efforts to get
his people moving he has little time to
sermonize. His treatment of incident
and situation, on the other hand, is
mastery.
By means of elucidative prefaces
lacking which certain subtler inten-
tions would pass unnoticed, and by
means of elaborate stage directions
with full CHARACTER analyses OF drama
tic personae, Mr.. Shaw adds vastly to
the effectiveness and carrying power
of his plays. Huneker and and
Shaw's prefaces would be remembered
when his plays were forgotten.
The common notion about Shaw is
that he Graves publicity, is Immensely
and self-centered and does
not care what folly of thought or con-
duct he. commits, if by so doing he
draws attention to himself.
According to Sir John Ervine the
truth about him is he is sly and ner-
vous man, singularly humble-minded
and sincere, and very courageous and
generous. In the long run the crowd
pay tribute to great men but Shaw
was anxious that tribute should be
paid to him immediately. So, he
limbed on to platforms and into news
papers shouting II am better than
He performed tricks in
public in order to make people be-
ieve he could think in the theater.
lie enjoyed mystifying people who
lave no sense of humor. It seemed to
lin the height of folly to try and con.
yince people he was serious, so OF
course he is to blame for the suspicion
hat he is never serious. Shaw COM
,els us to laugh at things. He does
lot make US laugh with him because
It the bottom he is not laughing HIM
elf, but is terribly in earnest. I
Shaw's plays abound in wit and
rony and in effective dramatic situa-
ions. Shaw has been called the Sher-
dan of the modern stage-both' are
lever in inventing situations. Shaw
lttacks life with his intellect whilel
Barrie caresses it with his emotions.
Archibald Henderson has said mo |
lister or more significant character
zaticn of this man can be made than
hat he is a penetrating and astute
rite of contemporary civilization.
lie is typical of this disquieting coun-
nv with it's intellectual brilliancy. it's
ronic nonsense, it's fippant humor
nd it's prepared social and religious
nrest.
"Man and Superman''
"Man and Superman" originated IN
he suggestion that Shaw should write
Don Juan play which he proceeded
O do in a CHARACTERISTIC topsy-turvy
ashton. The modern Don Juan as
represented by the hero John Taper
5 however no romantic libertlne, but
social revolutionist, irreproachable
n private conduct, but memorable in
lis revolt against false and outworn
He is determined to save
himself from bondage OF love and
marriage. This Superman is of course
he ideal type, but he would not be
veryone's ideal. Mr.. Shaw's ideal is
imply, if one may say so without
udeness. himself. John Tanner is
he philosopher who at some stage OF
he races development, denounces its
ulture and it's institutions, like Soc
ates. Ibsen and Neitzsche. Such a
ype is not only necessary but newt
bile for the advancement of the race. !
Marriage by conquest on the part OF
is the theme. i
Ann Whitefeld is Everywoman and
Ter part is to defeat the purpose OF
he Superman and to tempt him to be
alse to his philosophy. In this she
ucceeds for Shaw must make his play
ike life. Mr.. Shaw's hero accordingly
lfter denouncing Ann as a vampire
md declaring against marriage, mar
les her.
Ann Whitefeld is "a mighty hunt !
cry vulgar, quite uncivilized and
,uite ignorant of everyday feminine
lelicacies; in a word the new woman
according to the gospel of Shaw.
To supply these two with characters
Upon whom they may act and be re-
acted, Mr.. Shaw has devised a middle
ICED hypocrite and man Of the world:
FAMED Roebrick Ramsden; sap-head-
d young man named Octavius who
Totes so much on Ann that he sacri-
ices his own happiness that she may