The Theatre: Saint Joan*

G. B. S. Proves Himself an Incorrigible Idealist

George Bernard Shaw presented to the world, with the season’s greetings, three gifts—a play, a speech, a remark.

The remark he sent through Collier’s Weekly in response to a typically American request for his views on Santa Claus. The remark was: “Santa Claus be bio wed!—(signed) G. Bernard Shaw, Adelphi Terrace, London.”

The speech, copies of which are disseminated by the Fabian Society of London, discussed the question: “Is Civilization Desirable?” Shaw answered that whether or not it is desirable it is rapidly being destroyed. “But,” added the mocking, mordant, misanthropic Shaw, “nobody will take any notice of me. Nobody ever has.”

And now the world, tired of this giver of evil gifts, ready to kick him out of the age which, in spite of him, is so much like him, discovers that the old man has brought back to life a brave and beautiful and altogether lovely and lovable creature—Joan of Arc.

It is not to be expected that the Joan, brought to us by Shaw, is the Joan of our first love. She does not trail clouds of glory, nor converse with winged angels, nor does she fasten her locks within the confines of a regulation halo. She is the lass rather than the Maid.

God told her to do something. Stirred by the strange blind loyalty of ignorance, she did it. When the day came for her to die on a blazing woodpile she did not understand. God had not explained to her the historical values of martyrdom.

Withal she is a masterful character with an instinctive rather than conscious mastery. The accepted weapons of her sex she disregards. She is on a man’s errand and she deals with men manfully. In the cast of 28 characters she is the only woman. Yet when the need arises none can bear himself with a finer masculinity than she.

Shaw’s play is totally modernized. English, and even American slang salts the speeches of his characters. His mocking wit runs through it. Yet even Snaw’s wit cannot destroy Shaw’s emotion. In the writing of this play the old sinner and cynic writes himself down as an incorrigible idealist.

*Shaw’s play, Saint Joan, will be produced in Manhattan by the Theatre Guild, Dec. 28.