From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Man and Superman
Man and Superman
Man and Superman is a four-act drama, written by George something much deeper, as suggested by the title. This ti-
Bernard Shaw in 1903. The series was written in response tle comes from Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical ideas
to calls for Shaw to write a play based on the Don Juan about the "Übermensch" ("Superman"). The plot centres
theme.[1] Man and Superman opened at The Royal Court on John Tanner, author of "The Revolutionist’s Handbook
Theatre in London on 23 May 1905, but with the omission and Pocket Companion", which is published with the play
of the 3rd Act. A part of the act, Don Juan in Hell (Act 3, as a 58-page appendix. Tanner is a confirmed bachelor
Scene 2), was performed when the drama was staged on 4 despite the pursuits of Ann Whitefield and her persis-
June 1907 at the Royal Court. The play was not performed tent efforts to entice him to marry her. Ann is referred
in its entirety until 1915, when the Travelling Repertory to as "the Life Force" and represents Shaw’s view that in
Company played it at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. every culture, it is the women who force the men to mar-
The long third act of the play is often cut. Don Juan ry them rather than the men who take the initiative.[2]
in Hell consists of a philosophical debate between Don
Juan (played by the same actor who plays Jack Tanner),
and the Devil, with Doña Ana (Ann) and the Statue of
External links
Don Gonzalo, Ana’s father (Roebuck Ramsden, an aged • Man and Superman, an audio rendition of the play.
acquaintance of Tanner’s and Ann’s Guardian) looking • Man and Superman, digitized copy of the first
on. This third act is often performed separately as a play edition from Internet Archive.
in its own right, most famously during the 1950s in a con- • Man and Superman at the Internet Broadway Database
cert version, featuring Charles Boyer as Don Juan, Charles • Review, photos and other information
Laughton as the Devil, Cedric Hardwicke as the Comman- • Read online at Project Gutenberg
der and Agnes Moorehead as Doña Ana. This version was • "The Revolutionist’s Handbook and Pocket
also released as a spoken word album on LP, but is yet Companion", an appendix to Man and Superman
to appear on CD. However, the complete performance (page images)
recording is now available at various sites on the inter- • "Old Time Radio". MP3 downloads of 1950
net. performance.
Although Man and Superman can be performed as a
light comedy of manners, Shaw intended the drama to be
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Man_and_Superman&oldid=462127646"
Categories:
• 1903 plays
• Plays by George Bernard Shaw
• Works based on the Don Juan legend
• 20th century play stubs
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