Click here to read his letter referring to a revival performance of one of his many plays “John Bull’s Other Island,” and how it should have been received.
All posts by graduateshaw1
Major Barbara Reviews
American Reviews
Shaw Chicago’s 1997 production of Major Barbara
Chicago Reader
British Reviews
National Theatre’s 2008 production of Major Barbara
British Theatre Guide
The Guardian
The Independent
West End Whingers
Canadian Reviews
The Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre’s 2012 production of Major Barbara
The Winnipeg Review
Shaw Festival’s 2013 production of Major Barbara
Jam.Canoe
James Karas Reviews
St. Catherine’s Standard
The Globe and Mail
The London Free Press
The Star
Chichester Festival Theatre reviews for Heartbreak House
Critic Dominic Cavendish writes of the unfortunate underuse of the brilliant Derek Jacobi in the Chicester Festival Theatre’s production of Heartbreak House: The Telegraph
Reviewer Michael Billington declares the Shaw play Heartbreak House a bit “bland” and comments that the only redeeming quality of the production was the performance from actor Derek Jacobi (who played Captain Shotover), whose acting skills created moments of great distinction within a rather “dull” play: The Guardian
From the perspective of reviewer Henry Hitchings, actor Derek Jacobi drives the “pessimistic” play forward. He also comments on the performance of a fellow actress, Emma Fielding, who brings a “teasing vitality” to the role of Hesione Hushabye: London Evening Standard
In this Mid Sussex Times review, Gary Shipton summarizes the play with grim details of the production’s failure to bring to the stage the authenticity of Shaw’s play: Mid Sussex Times
Elizabeth Fitzherbert praises the strong performances of the actors, as it aids in delivering a “completely frivolous comedy on manners.” However, she writes, some moments in the play seem over exaggerated and drawn out, which take back from the production: The Wall Street Journal
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s reviews of Saint Joan
This reviews summarizes the concept behind the play Saint Joan, lists the comments from other critics: Saint Joan at The Rep
A background description of the origins of the play, the playwright Bernard Shaw and his beginnings, information on the cast and crew, as well as the dates and times of the performances: Shaw’s JOAN OF ARC Comes to St. Louis Rep’s Mainstage Through Feb. 1
Reviewer Dennis Brown praises the verisimilitude of Tarah Flanagan’s portrayal of Joan of Arc, and credits director Paul Barnes for a successful dynamic interpretation of the play: Arc Triumph: The Rep assays the summit that is Shaw’s Saint Joan
Oran Mor reviews for Pygmalion
Critic Missy Lorelei calls the direction of Shaw’s play Pygmalion to be of a “lacklustre” delivery by Liz Carruthers and the performances to be underwhelming; however, the Rebecca Elise’s rendition of Eliza Doolittle saves the production as it drives the play forward: Pygmalion @ Oran Mor
Assembly George Square reviews of Candida
Reviewer Anthony Sammeroff applauses the “sharp humour” of the play, stating that it remained truthful to Shaw’s original idea, although claims that some of the conflicts between the characters lacked “clear progression of temperature and regression.” Overall, he praises the brash with script and says that it’s a must see: Candida @ Assembly George Square
Electronic Books
Weintraub, Stanley. Silent Night. NY: Free Press, 2001. link to itunes download
Weintraub, Stanley. Eleven Days in December. Christmas at the Bulge, 1944. NY: Free Press, 2006. link to ebook; link to itunes download
Weintraub, Stanley. Fifteen Stars. NY: Free Press, 2007. link to itunes download
Weintraub, Stanley. Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941. New York: DaCapo Press (Perseus Books Group), 2011. link to ebook; link to itunes download
Weintraub, Stanley. Victorian Yankees at Queen Victoria’s Court. Maryland: University of Delaware, 2011. link to itunes download
Weintraub, Stanley. General Sherman’s Christmas. Savannah, 1864. New York: Harper/Smithsonian, 2009. link to ebook; link to itunes download
Weintraub, Stanley. Final Victory: FDR’s Extraordinary World War II Presidential Campaign. New York: DaCapo Press (Perseus Books Group), 2012. link to ebook; link to itunes download
National Theatre’s Saint Joan Reviews
Critic Lizzie Loveridge praises the theatre’s production of one of Shaw’s classics and the convincing performances of the actors in the play, especially that of Anne-Marie Duff’s “kooky and direct” take on the titular character Saint Joan: A CurtainUp London Review
Although Michael Billington’s review describes Marianne Elliot’s production of the play to contradict the ideals of Shaw, he attests to incredibility of the production by stating that it is “excitingly done.” He notes that Elliot moves the play in the direction of an ensemble piece, rather than a star vehicle that focuses only on Saint Joan: The Guardian Review
Critic Neil Dowden writes that National Theatres’s production of the play relies heavily on the physical aspect of performance and less on the dialogue between characters. He then praises the leads, especially Marie-Anne Duff, and their interpretation of the historical characters: Music OMH Review
Lizzie Guilfoyle relays her experience with the play with a walkthrough of the narrative: Indie London Review
Critic David Benedict writes his appraisal for the director’s, Marianne Elliot, version of the play and her dedication to remain authentic to Shaw’s text and the characters. Anne-Marie Duff’s commitment to the character of Joan was in fact “mesmerizing” and aided in completing the vision carried out by Elliot: Variety review
This review illustrates the director’s, Marianne Elliot, inability to remain faithful to Shaw’s intention of the play, focusing more on the “psychological motivation” behind the characters rather than revealing the background of a heroine. Although the second half revives the play as a whole, this review hold fast onto the opinion that the play is not the “most brilliant” of the National Theatre’s productions: Theatre Kraut Review
New Books
Weintraub, Stanley. Iron Tears: America’s Battle for Freedom, Britain’s Quagmire, 1775-1783. New York: Free Press, 2005. (also, subtitled Rebellion in America, 1775-1783. London: Simon and Schuster, 2005) link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. Eleven Days in December. Christmas at the Bulge, 1944. NY: Free Press, 2006. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. 15 Stars: Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall: Three Generals Who Saved the American Century. New York: Free Press, 2007. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. General Sherman’s Christmas. Savannah, 1864. New York: Harper/Smithsonian, 2009. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. Farewell, Victoria! English Literature 1880-1900. Greensboro, NC: ELT PRESS/ Univ. of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2011. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. Who’s Afraid of Bernard Shaw? Some Personalities in Shaw’s Plays. Gainesville, FL: Univ. Press of Florida, 2011. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. Victorian Yankees at Queen Victoria’s Court: American Encounters with Victoria and Albert. Newark: Univ. of Delaware Press, 2011. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941. New York: DaCapo Press (Perseus Books Group), 2011. link to book
Weintraub, Stanley. Final Victory: FDR’s Extraordinary World War II Presidential Campaign. New York: DaCapo Press (Perseus Books Group), 2012. link to book