There have been many terms used to describe George Bernard Shaw, the original Bad Boy of English literature, but “taciturn” was never one of them. Indeed, the Irish-born author scripted many plays with running times over three hours, as though he was one of those American pulp writers of the 1920s and ’30s who were paid by the word.
Shaw did, however, write several one-act plays. The Washington Stage Guild, which has produced over two dozen of Shaw’s plays since its debut in 1986, has collected three of them under the title “Shaw’s Shorts” for its current presentation.
Smoothly directed by John MacDonald, all three display Shaw’s rapier-sharp wit and his typically irreverent attitude toward government (particularly the British government) and thoseindividuals who wield an inordinate amount of power and authority.
The first and oldest play is “The Man of Destiny: A Trifle” (1894). Taking place on the terrace of an Italian inn, circa 1796, the story revolves around Napoleon (Michael Glenn) and how his preparations for battle are confounded by a mysterious woman (Kathleen Akerly) who manages to anticipate his every move in this battle of wills.
The second play, “O’Flaherty V.C.: A Recruiting Pamphlet” (1915), is easily the funniest of the bunch. Private O’Flaherty (Glenn), an Irishman who has just been awarded the Victoria Cross for his service during World War I, reveals to his C.O., General Madigan (Jeff Baker), that, due to the hatred his old, white-haired mother (Lynn Steinmetz) has for the British, he led her to believe he was fighting for the other side.
The last work, “The Dark Lady of the Sonnets” (1910), has a bumbling young Will Shakespeare (Chris Davenport) who, while attempting an assignation with a lady friend (Akerly), encounters interference (and inspiration) from a duffer of a Beefeater (Baker) and Queen Elizabeth (Steinmetz), herself.
Stage Guild regulars Baker, Glenn and Steinmetz give their customarily solid comic performances. Akerly (best known as an accomplished director) makes an outstanding debut with this group. Davenport, also a regular, has some wonderful low-comedy moments, especially as a spectacularly inept lieutenant in the first play who takes Napoleon’s order to hold his tongue literally.
For those unfamiliar with Shaw’s work, or that of the Washington Stage Guild, “Shaw’s Shorts” makes a perfect introduction.
If you go
“Shaw’s Shorts”
» Venue: The Washington Stage Guild, 1901 14th St., NW
» Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through April 1
» Tickets: $35 to $40
» More info: 240-582-0050 or www.stageguild.org
