TUDOR THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 298, 13 September 1941, Page 12

TUDOR THEATRE

There are variations of emphasis between the film story and the play, but since Bernard Shaw himself had a major say in what was said and the manner of saying it, it can be taken for granted that as a film s “Major Barbara,” continuing at the Plaza Theatre, is Shaw’s own creation.

Major Barbara, is the daughter of Andrew Undershaft, millionaire munitions manufacturer who. so his wife says, practices morality and preaches immorality. Major Barbara of the Salvation Army attracts the attention of Adolphus Cusins, student and professor of Greek, who promptly falls in love with her. As a student of religion and morality Adolphus has more knowledge and less faith than the major, but he has the advantage of her in a certain ruthlessness of thought and action which does not stop short of him joining the Salvation Army to win her affection. The odd mixture of religion, Greek philosophy, aristocracy and armaments manufacture all under the Undershaft roof, is a rich source of comedy quietly played. The ultimate result is that the boy gets the girl and the mil-’ lions, but in between is a world of difference from the usual formula. At every point the best of acting fills out the story, so that the whole show flows with a deceptive smoothness which enhances the dramatic tension.