Word: undershaft
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...Unashamed." In Major Barbara, characterizing the Undershaft family, Shaw drew a composite portrait of Europe's great munitions makers. After explaining the armorers' creed-"To give arms to all men who offer an honest price"-he assigned them as a device, the one word "Unashamed." The word implies at least some contemplation of a moral dilemma. But there is little evidence that the Krupps and people like them ever really considered the possibility of personal guilt. In the best 19th century patriotic tradition, the Krupps-like weapons makers all over Europe-always worked with their own government...
Still, with imaginative direction he might have squeaked by an inadequate set. He tried, in fact, to make the power of his cast's performance overcome the limits of his theatre, but he overshot his mark. His Andrew Undershaft, the devilish millionaire, should be a calm, self-assured, and enchanting British man of business. With Ronald Bishop as Undershaft, Criss creates a tasteless cross between an absent-minded lecher and a greasy, loudmouthed American tycoon. Undershaft should be civilized; Criss makes him vulgar. He should be easy, going; but in this version he thunders every other word...
...green emblem on the baby's diaper assays potassium chlorate . . . which implicates the gunpowder blender. Egad, the whole thing begins to jell. The Undershaft payroll goes out tomorrow . . . Then they'll knock the place over within 24 hours?" said Dr. Watson...
Erhardt himself plays Andrew Undershaft, and does so forcefully. However, I would question his interpretation. Undershaft should be an obnoxious man. When the audience is forced to admit that what he says is true, it should be regretfully, as Shaw puts it, "with a pain in the self-esteem." We should begrudge the nobility of Undershaft's thought. As Erhardt played the role, his manners were already too noble, his voice too Stentorian...
...audience was convinced Undershaft was right before Barbara was and this made the role of Barbara, played by Patricia Hawkins, much more difficult. She seemed both far more naive and far more pigheaded than Shaw intended. Barbara has to separate the truthful doctrine from the repulsive personality of Undershaft. Erhardt was too engaging, too soon...