Man and Superman

By: George Bernard Shaw / Narrated By: Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Juliet Stevenson, John Wood, Nicholas Le Prevost, Paul Merton, Peter Hall

Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins

My first George Bernard Shaw? Dude, it must be St. Paddy’s Day…

And accordingly, whenst reviewing Irish artists, I’m left considering:

Does one need to drink before, during, or after perusal of their offerings? A mighty conundrum, I assure you!

Which isn’t to say that Man and Superman is bad; not by a long shot. I believe it has more to do with the fact that the Edwardian era is not m’ forte. All I know of it is that it was a time of huuuuuge change, and with Shaw coming of age during the Victorian era but producing this during the Edwardian? Well, hmmmm…

Started in 1901, this is supposed to be a mild comedy of manners, with a bit o’ the melodramatics of the previous Victorian stagecraft shown, but also is s’posed to further Shavian philosophies: Such as Shaw’s acceptance of Nietzche’s “Übermensch” or Superman who was to bloom in the “Modern” years. One should note, however, that Nietzche was waaaaay down the list of whom Shaw acknowledged as influences.

Okay, I’m boring even myself, so lemme pleeeeeze get to the play cuz I’m sooo done with Wikipedia and Cliff Notes.

One thing about the audiobooks from Chirpbooks is that one is Wham! thrown imMEDiately into the production of the audiobook. No Hi, Hello, Watcha doin’? just straight into it all. FORtunately, Man and Superman seeeems to be director Sir Peter Hall’s thoughts. -But- as we’re WHAM! into it all, there’s nothing that introduces him… dang it, Chirpbooks! Can you please work on that?!

So anyhoo—’Twould appear that the man has little patience for current sensibilities (Read: Zip! None! Nada in the way of the modern person’s ability to focus; there is UTTer distractibility in the world today). This is not only a shame but is quite possibly an OUTrage. And so, when asked to direct the play, he was asked to cut the 3rd Act where there’s a discussion between Don Juan and the Devil. Apparently, the 3rd Act has always been cut, has mostly been performed as a separate play entirely, blah blah Hall refuuuuuused and so got his way blah.

I’m here to tell you? Entirety Enschmirety… Man is the 3rd Act odd. That said, however, what sacrilege to NOT include it in this… odd… play.

It opens with the feisty young Ann Whitefield being the bone of contention between an older Man of the Previous Age (Roebuck Ramsden) and a Youth with New and Revolutionary Ideals (John Tanner). The two deTESt each other, but a Will has left them as co-guardians of Ann. And so there are lengthy diatribes, esPECially by the fiery li’l orator guy, Tanner. When Ann is brought in to make her wishes known, she twitters with delight and avers that her dearest departed Papa’s wishes should be respected. ‘Nuff said.

-THEN- when left together, we see Ann’s true colors as she purrs like a kitten, wheedles like a Siren, luring Tanner into a flirtatious conversation. The woman has spunk, and boy! does she know what she wants, or what?! That Tanner’s good friend, the poetic Octavius, is desperately in love with Ann is in his mind; but mostly? Guy just does NOT wanna marry any woman—she whose main aim is to provide a breadwinner for the spawn of procreation.

Which had me Googling to see if Shaw was a misogynist. Apparently not; he was into Eugenics. …Oops, I digress… Uhm, he was an early Feminist, and the play is actually turning the Don Juan tale on its head and making Ann the pursuer with Tanner as the (Very vocal, very stubborn!) prey. Okaaaay, dunno if all THAT is going to come through to Today’s Listener (We’re twitchy) withOUT that odd 3rd Act.

Act follows Act with dramatic bits o’ irony abounding occurring alongside melodramatic conversations which are, well, NOT chucklesome but maybe CAN be smile-inducing. Different characters are introduced, and all the women shine forth as being the ones who are FIRMLY In Charge Of the Pants within their couples.

There ARE bits within the play that could seem shocking to the whims of the Day Way Back When: Marriage is viewed as The Most Licentious Thing EVER as it provides Societally Condoned sexual congress… I mean, is that a >gasp< or what?! And the Upper Classes? Useless: The New Modern Man is the chauffeur who not only can drive the cars they’ve all gotten used to but can also fix the danged thing. And one funny line: When brigands kinda sorta kidnap Tanner and his chauffeur, the brigand says he makes his living by robbing the rich; and Tanner responds that, as a gentleman, he makes his living by robbing the poor.

Okay, THAT one made me laugh.

Now, whereas Emma with the full cast production failed, was waaaay too all over the place and was hard to keep up with. Here? Oh my, how each actor does fully inhabit their character. Tanner’s oratory declarations coulda come off as dull, but Ralph Fiennes imbues them with fiery passions and with real conviction. And at first I was wondering why Dame Judi Dench had top billing cuz she had but a few lines; but then she’s brought back to give the most endearing and enlightening speeches at the end. Juliet Stevenson? Good heavens! That woman of many talents did Ann’s range from coy young woman to a bit of a conniver, from Ann to Doña Ana chatting to her deceased father and the Devil. Throw in a few other supporting actors who enTIREly held their own with such prime stars, and this is a Must Listen… if you’re into All Things Shavian.

Which I SWEAR I will be, here on out! EsPECially if narrated by various wunderkind.

-OR- at leeeeeast… on St. Paddy’s Day…

What? Too shameless?!