Evening star., 1932-03-13

NWO Qd1h WCCho dAlu VIC lIlOot
terrific storm of the Winter
paved the way to the re-
opening of the National
Theater, with new George
Bernard Shaw contribution to the
joys of wicked world seemingly
bent upon its own undoing. Mr..
Bernard Shaw, as his intimates,
the critics, are prone to dub him
to save space for other things, is
one of the worlds big topics of
conversation. And he continues
to be that whether you like him
or not. MuSSolini, when he set
out to restore the ancient glories
and prestige of Italy, pretty thor
oughly wedged his way into cur
rent conversation and more or
less aroused the eXcitability of
his fellow humans everywhere. AS
a new sort of Napoleon, he worked
his way to the center of the
worlds stage and large share of
its spotlight in the face of the
rivalry of a galaxy of industrious
and determined Russians bent
upon upsetting things in general
and in their turn. But they found
MIR. Shaw dividing time and
thought with them at least among
the highbrowS. MuSsolini appears
to have settled down for the time
being and the Russians are busy
with five-year plan which
doesn't get much space in the
public prints of the day. Both
have simmered, leaving Mr.. Shaw
still in the limelight, challenging
the world and things with his
audaciouS brilliance and always
finding a ready audience He
comes to us now, not only as a
Fellow of the Royal Society of
Literature, but with the louder
sounding title of the Dramatic
Emperor of Europe. Surely a play
by a playwright of that eminence
ought to be interesting And be-
sides, think of it, we are beating
mighty New York to a first
glimpse of it.
"A THOUGH it is believed he has
never said so, Mr.. Shaw, in
fact, is overthrowing cherished
belief of mankind that modesty
is a virtue. And yet, because he
is so typical of the famed Irish
mans flea, ever absent when he
is most present, it is a bit difficult
to determine when the gifted Celt
is in earnest or only poking fun
at his fellows. Should you dare
question his ipse dixit, it would
be not at all unusual to have him
come back with a reflection upon
YOUR power of understanding to
accuse YOU of not comprehendlng
what he meant. His new play, we
are informed, is something o!
comic 'Heartbreak House, deallng
lightly and airily With various
postwar problems of morals ano
other forms of behavior, national
and personal" And this, in view
of the condition of the times and
the public mind, is indeed myS-
teriouS challenge, who knows, per-
hapS even to Congress itself, which
is having it's troubles other than
those with the dramatic critics
Indeed, withal Mr. Shaw is him
self one of those very critics who
thrust ruthleSsly at the creative
efforts of the other dramatiStS. II
seems almost a pity that he might
not make a personal appearance
with his new play. He might con-
sent to assemble with his Amer
ican brethren at the Capitol ano
get an insight into our American
way of getting at the bottom Of
things that perplex our Nation.
THE Shubert BelaSco Theater, ir
- keeping with the custom ot
the times, will retire from the
competition in the legitimate
theaters the best part of the cur.
rent week. But in the fag enc
1t win again blaze forth with