Major Barbara at the National Theatre

Major Barbara at the National Theatre

21 July, 2008
by: Dominick

First performed in November 1905, Major Barbara has a strong period feeling, emphasized in this National Theatre production by excellent sets designed by Tom Pye. The costumes, by Vicki Mortimer, also catch the period, as well as being easy on the eye.

'Easiness' however, is not an aspect of Shaw's play, even though there are an almost surprising number of good laughs at the expense of, or in sympathy with the players. Instead, Bernard Shaw is concerned with the dicey relationship between right and wrong, and with how to live a 'good' life in all too human circumstances.

The irony is nicely caught in the relationship of the two principal characters, the 'Major Barbara' of the title played delicately by Hayley Atwell, and her father Andrew Undershaft. 'Major' Barbara, holds that rank in the Salvation Army, with all its implications of charitable work and ceaseless efforts on a shoe-string to run hostels and feed the poor and indigent.

Her father, Andrew Undershaft is a hard-boiled arms manufacturer, well captured by Simon Russell Beale. He is relentlessly tough in defence of his trade, of which we get a convincing glimpse towards the end of the piece.

Undershaft maintains his insistence on the merits of arms manufacture - and there is even a glance forward to his contemplated 'aerial battleships' - still on the drawing board.

Not everything in the play is in such simple black and white confrontation, and there are pleasant subtleties, as for instance Major Barbara's hand in marriage being sought by an itinerant and unsuitable teacher of ancient Greek, a most unlikely acquisition for the family of the arms magnate.

Perhaps the sharpness of Shaw's implicit criticism of a society which encompasses both the poor Salvationists and the multi-millionaire arms trader, is best caught when the 'villain' of the piece offers a large cheque to the Salvation Army. The embarrassment is made more acute by the fact that another generous donor turns out to be a trader in strong drink, so the Salvation Army will find itself supported by the two things it most fiercely rejects, hard liquor and lethal arms.

And the point of contrast between the fortunate and unfortunate was made by the luxury of the Undershafts' over-decorated sitting room, and the squalor of the Salvationists hostel, all splendidly realised to make Shaw's point for him even without the words.



Click here to see what's on at Sadie Coles HQ.
Click here to see all London Theatre.
Click here for things to do in Southbank.

Dominick