Word: heartbreaking
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...first act was a little disconcerting, for two reasons. First, the characters and plot revealed a lack of originality, as mentioned. Second, the difficulty of adjusting oneself to seeing the same actors, who only last week were so exciting as members of Shaw's Heartbreak family, reduced new to the hum-drum bickerings of Mr. Savory's Garth-Banders...
...commercial nor an artistic success because the proper ingredients for either were not there. It was a mildly amusing but banal play, containing a certain topical message which could not, however, justify its inclusion in any repertory. The Copley players' second play, which closes tonight, is Shaw's "Heartbreak House," a much wiser and likelier choice, which they do in fine style...
Both "The Road to Rome" and "Heartbreak House" were given excellent, professional productions and "George and Margaret" will doubtlessly get the same. But even though it was a success in London, "George and Margaret" failed when it was seen here in 1937, as often happens with imported hits. Mr. Linenthal describes it as a "pleasant and amusing" play. That much could also be said for "Claudia" and "I Remember Mama," two immense successes--but they do not belong in repertory. There is an uncomfortable suspicion that "George and Margaret" may not either...
...Heartbreak House" was written during the first World War when Shaw was in a particularly pessimistic frame of mind and admittedly inspired by Chekov's "The Cherry Orchard." Heartbreak House is built in the likeness of a ship and the ship is England, which Shaw saw as headed for the rocks. In "The Cherry Orchard" there is the hope that when the forest is cleared there will be a better world. There isn't this hope in "Heartbreak House." It ends with its people realizing themselves and crying out for annihilation. The meaning of this conclusion is not clear...
...encourage this, the directors have scaled seats from $2.70 to 60 cents. Students with special cards (which can be obtained at the CRIMSON office) can get a 30 percent discount. This means you can see live actors, in an extremely lively and intelligent play, for 45 cents. As "Heartbreak House" is scheduled to close, tomorrow night, this will give you only time to see it twice--not a bad idea...