"ARMS AND THE MAN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 128, 26 November 1941, Page 10

"ARMS AND THE MAN"

REPERTORY PRODUCTION

While admitting that George Bernard Shaw could write clever dialogue, a London critic of note some 50 years ago earnestly endeavoured to dissuade him from persevering as a dramatist, "for which he has no special ability, and some constitutional disabilities." Metaphorically G.B.S. thereupon put his fingers to his nose and proceeded to produce "Arms and the Man," in which, for a change, action is combined with the usual brilliant dialogue. Thus was the critic' confounded; -The Wellington Repertory Theatre has done a good turn to Wellington by stepping in with an excellent fiesh-and-blood revival of this 50-year-old play; ./'Arms and the ,]Mah"..is typically. -Shaviaii satire on, "and destructive criticism of. the romance supposed to be associated with military ,glory.- In. it are three types of soldiers;taking -part in one of the periodical Balkan wars." One is a pompous■ but quite inefficient major, an I outstanding characterisation by R. S. Allwright. Another is a dashing cavalry officer, well played by A. G. Brown-Douglas, who is mercilessly debunked into a creature of very common clay; • while the third is a.Swiss professional soldier, more fond of chocolate greams than pf fighting. This difficult and. onerous part, was soundly played by . Howard Wadman. The Swiss mercenary, however, shows that he is worth much more than the other two put. together, and it is he who wins the hand of Shaw's Intelligent Woman, personified in this play by the.major's young daughter, for had she not;sheltered him as a fugitive from battle in her bedroom? This was a part charmingly played by Joan Flacfc. Other sterling performances were given by Constance Kelly as the .major's wife, and by Marjorie Eberlet as the rrteid with whom ultimately the dashing; cavalry officer had to be content. Burnett Ross as the manservant was good, too. A very minor part was that allotted .Alan Ppwdrell. .The ; whole production, under the "direction of Miss Helen Gardner, showed' ' a fine appreciation: of Shaw's subtleties.- Scenery and costuming were picturesque. This delightful comedy will be repeated each night for the remainder of the week. •