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This is an essay providing an extended analysis of the works of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and of Ibsen's critical reception in England. Shaw uses this "exposition of Ibsenism" to illustrate the imperfections of British society, using the idea of an imaginary "community of a thousand persons," divided into three categories: Philistines, Idealists, and the lone Realist. The main discussion revolves around Ibsen's recurring topic of the strong character holding out against social hypocrisy, while stating in his essay's final sentence that the quintessence of Ibsenism is that "there is no ...

George Bernard Shaw - or Bernard Shaw, as he preferred to be known - was one of Ireland's foremost dramatists and thinkers. His plays range from contemporary satires to historical allegories, and are infused with ideas, insight, wit and wisdom. Included here are some of his best works, adapted for radio and brought together in reverse chronological order in one statement collection.

When Vivie learns that her mother's harlotry is the origin of her financial support, nothing in her world can ever be the same. There are serious consequences for her suitor, her mother, and herself.

The Doctor's Dilemma is about Dr. Colenso Ridgeon, who has recently been knighted because of a miraculous new treatment he developed for tuberculosis. As his friends arrive to congratulate him on his success, he is visited by two figures who present him with a difficult decision. He has room for one more patient in his clinic; should he give it to Louis Dubedat, a brilliant but absolutely immoral artist, or Dr. Blenkinsop, a poor and rather ordinary physician who is a truly good person? Dr. Ridgeon's dilemma is heightened when he falls for Jennifer Dubedat, the artist's wife, who is innocent ...

Fanny who is the daughter of a Count has written a play. Having hired professional actors and invited some major critics. She is keeping her authorship private and she fears her father will not approve as he hates the vulgarity of modern life. - Summary by Michele Eaton Cast list: Count O'Dowda: Adrian Stephens Bannal: Agnes Robert Behr Gunn/Critic: Alan Mapstone Juggins: Beeswaxcandle Margaret: Christine Longhelt Stage Directions: czandra Trotter/Critic: Larry Wilson Fanny: Stacey Malcolm Savoyard: HelloCentral Vaughan/Critic: redrun Footman: James R. Hedrick Mrs Gilbey: Victoria Scrimer ...

George Bernard Shaw is een muziekcriticus, toneelschrijver, essayist, speelt Ierse auteur en scenarist. Vernietigende en provocerend, pacifist en non-conformistische, won hij de Nobelprijs voor de Literatuur in 1925. Deze 100 citaties doel om de toegang tot zijn monumentale werk van een selectie van zijn belangrijkste gedachten in een formaat dat voor iedereen toegankelijk te bieden.

Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw about 15th-century French military figure Joan of Arc. Premiering in 1923, three years after her canonization by the Roman Catholic Church, the play reflects Shaw's belief that the people involved in Joan's trial acted according to what they thought was right. He wrote in his preface to the play: “There are no villains in the piece. Crime, like disease, is not interesting: it is something to be done away with by general consent, and that is all [there is] about it. It is what men do at their best, with good intentions, and what normal men and women...

Eight of George Bernard Shaw's most memorable plays in one splendid collection: Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Arms and the Man, Candida, The Devil’s Disciple, Major Barbara, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Misalliance, and Pygmalion.

A new version of this classic starring Stephen Fry. A chance encounter leads to flower girl Eliza Dootlittle undergoing a life changing transformation.

The Emporor of Rome and the Queen of the Nile as only Shaw could have imagined them! He is a self-doubting cynic who is experiencing a mid-life crisis and she is an imperious and impertinent child on the threshold of womanhood. This recording also includes Shaw's alternate Prologue and his post-text notes.

George Bernard Shaw has been called the second greatest playwright in English (after William Shakespeare) and one of the inventors of modern celebrity as the most famous public intellectual of his time. Beginning in the 1880s, as a critic and as a playwright, he transformed British drama, bringing to it intellectual substance, ethical imperatives, and modernity itself, setting the theatrical course for the subsequent century. That his legacy endures 70 years after his death is testament to the prescience of his thinking and his prolific creativity. 

This witty masterpiece combines high comedy with social commentary as it deflates romantic misconceptions of love and warfare. First produced on the London stage in 1894, Arms and the Man is one of the most frequently acted and studied of Shaw's plays.

In this allegorical play, the eccentric Captain Shorover's home hosts a cast, each of whom represents some evil in the modern world.

You Never Can Tell was originally born out of a bet that Shaw couldn't write a "seaside comedy" (a popular theatrical genre at that time). The result is perhaps the most surprising of Shaw's plays, complete with marital mayhem, tangled romance, and even doubtful dentistry. Despite the play's lighthearted tone, it's really another of Shaw's brilliantly observed social treatises, this time in the guise of a light comedy.

In Widowers Houses, one of the three thought-provoking plays that make up Shaws Plays Unpleasant published in 1898, the renowned playwright challenges the status quo of Victorian theatre. Rather than simply entertain, Shaw aims to illuminate pressing social issues and critique the exploitation of the working class by the affluent elite. The story follows Dr. Harry Trench, who faces a moral crisis upon learning the unsettling truth about his fiancées father, Mr. Sartorius, and his dubious means of wealth. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Trenchs own financial situation is ...

In this thought-provoking late work, George Bernard Shaw delves into a myriad of contemporary issues through the lens of evolution, presenting his insights in five succinct plays set across vastly different historical epochs—from the Garden of Eden to the year 31,920 A.D. The central theme of this historical exploration posits that the future of humanity hinges on extending our lifespan to a remarkable 300 years, allowing us to truly mature. The characters in these plays wrestle with a pivotal question what will be the next significant leap in our evolution? While mere longevity enables this...

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Revolution, Devils Disciple follows the rebellious Richard Dudgeon, who, disillusioned by his mothers strict religious fervor and the narrow-mindedness of his neighbors, boldly embraces the title of the devils disciple. He finds camaraderie among the towns outcasts and relishes in the discomfort of those around him, including the earnest minister Anthony Anderson and his unassuming wife, Judith. However, as the British Army, led by General Burgoyne, draws near in search of prominent rebels to punish, Richard, Anthony, and Judith confront a ...

The action of this play, which occurs during a conflict on the Balkans, is initiated by the discovery by Raina, the daughter of an military officer, of a man who has taken refuge in her bedroom. Unfortunately, the man belongs to the opposing army. How will she deal with a notional enemy who behaves with such quixotic courtesy?

Children, if they are to grow up as citizens, must learn a good deal that their parents could not teach them even if they had the necessary time. The statesman must make provision for this teaching or he will presently find himself faced with the impossible task of maintaining civilization with savages instead of citizens

Mrs. Warrens Profession, a provocative play by George Bernard Shaw, first graced the London stage in 1902, only to be quickly banned after two performances due to its controversial themes. The story revolves around a former prostitute turned madam who grapples with her estranged daughter’s disapproval. Shaw compellingly argues that prostitution stems not from moral failings but from economic necessity, while also critiquing the hypocrisy of a society that profits from illicit trades yet condemns them. This tension between societal values and personal choices made the play a target for ...