Shavian Shenanigans

I loved last year's production of The Devil's Disciple by Gingold Theatrical Group, and a short review I wrote of the show recently appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of The Shavian.

The same issue also contains a review of Mrs. Warren's Profession, which I saw last summer at Shaw's Corner, Bernard Shaw's former home at Ayot St. Lawrence. The production, directed by Jonas Cemm, was later staged at the Theatre at the Tabard, which apparently had better acoustics even if it was not quite as picturesque.

Other interesting articles in the issue include Alexandra Glavanakova's report on the controversial Bulgarian National Theatre production of Arms and the Man that was met with fierce protests by Nationalists, and Soudabeh Ananisrab's discussion of the British Regional Repertory Movement, a piece that provided new evidence from the archives at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas.

The most substantial article in the issue, however, is Michel Pharand's "Mrs Warren Goes to France: The Politics of Translation." Pharand traces the story of the first French translations of some of Shaw's plays by Augustin and Henriette Hamon. Though the Hamons were not sticklers for accuracy, they were responsible for introducing the French to both The Devil's Disciple and Mrs. Warren's Profession, as well as such plays as The Philanderer, You Never Can Tell, and Candida.

If you want to get your own copy of The Shavian in the future, be sure to join the Shaw Society, which is based in Britain but quite welcoming to international members.