Just like the 1941 film version of Major Barbara was preceded by an introduction by author G.B. Shaw himself, this 1964 Dutch stage adaption for the small screen gets an intro from it's director, Jack Dixon. His purpose here is to prepare the meek television audience for the controversial play ahead which pulls no punches concerning religion, the salvation army and work ethics. Although today's audience is of course far more accustomed to being shocked on television, there are still some surprisingly strong points of view expressed in this 1905 play.
Factory owner Andrew Undershaft (Hans Tiermeyer) needs an heir pays a visit to his estranged family. His ex wife, Lady Britomart (Loudi Nijhof) wants him to pick their son Stephen (Joop Keesmaat). However, Undershaft Sr. insists on abiding to the family tradition of adopting an orphan into the family and giving him full reign of the steel factory. Therefore, Andrew completely ignores Stephen (who would much rather go into politics anyway) and instead concentrates on his two daughters and their fiancées. The eldest, Barbara (Anita Menist) is a major in the salvation army. Her betrothed is a meek follower called Adolphus Cusins (Ton Lensink). Younger daughter Sarah (Charmey Reynen) is only interested in parties and living the good live, and so is her lover Charles Lomax (Willem Nijholt).
Daddy is interested to see Barbara at work. At the salvation army we are introduced to a whole new bunch of opinionated characters from the opposite side of the class system. Undershaft takes it all in stride and even donates a hefty amount to the Salvation Army. Unfortunately, this rubs Barbara the wrong way as she is appalled by the notion of taking money earned from selling weapons of war. Barbara immediately resigns, which is a bit of a relief to fellow Army member Adolphus. The next day the entire family takes a tour of the dreaded weapon factory, where Adolphus lets it slip that he is in fact an orphan and... well you can guess the rest.
By the end even Major Barbara has been turned to her father's point of view as she looks forward to looking after the 'small town' in which the factory workers reside. Adolphus becomes the new factory director, Sarah and Charles continue leading their happy go lucky posh existence and daddy war-bucks will even see to getting his little boy Stephen into parliament. Quite a sarcastic little happy end, really.
7 out of 10
Factory owner Andrew Undershaft (Hans Tiermeyer) needs an heir pays a visit to his estranged family. His ex wife, Lady Britomart (Loudi Nijhof) wants him to pick their son Stephen (Joop Keesmaat). However, Undershaft Sr. insists on abiding to the family tradition of adopting an orphan into the family and giving him full reign of the steel factory. Therefore, Andrew completely ignores Stephen (who would much rather go into politics anyway) and instead concentrates on his two daughters and their fiancées. The eldest, Barbara (Anita Menist) is a major in the salvation army. Her betrothed is a meek follower called Adolphus Cusins (Ton Lensink). Younger daughter Sarah (Charmey Reynen) is only interested in parties and living the good live, and so is her lover Charles Lomax (Willem Nijholt).
Daddy is interested to see Barbara at work. At the salvation army we are introduced to a whole new bunch of opinionated characters from the opposite side of the class system. Undershaft takes it all in stride and even donates a hefty amount to the Salvation Army. Unfortunately, this rubs Barbara the wrong way as she is appalled by the notion of taking money earned from selling weapons of war. Barbara immediately resigns, which is a bit of a relief to fellow Army member Adolphus. The next day the entire family takes a tour of the dreaded weapon factory, where Adolphus lets it slip that he is in fact an orphan and... well you can guess the rest.
By the end even Major Barbara has been turned to her father's point of view as she looks forward to looking after the 'small town' in which the factory workers reside. Adolphus becomes the new factory director, Sarah and Charles continue leading their happy go lucky posh existence and daddy war-bucks will even see to getting his little boy Stephen into parliament. Quite a sarcastic little happy end, really.
7 out of 10