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It's no accident that the San José Repertory Theatre's season opener, Major Barbara, touches upon some of-the-moment topics, but even if its subject matter seems contemporary, the play is almost as timeless as it is timely. George Bernard Shaw's 1905 play explores issues that range from debating the morality of making war to declaring the immorality of allowing poverty to flourish.
The social satire opens Sept. 10 at the Rep in downtown San Jose.
Despite the weight of such issues as war and poverty, Major Barbara makes plenty of its own fun with characters who express serious ideas but can't always be taken too seriously themselves. The well-to-do Undershaft family faces some common family problems, but in unusual ways. Patriarch Andrew Undershaft has become estranged from his wife, Lady Britomart, and his son, Stephen, over Stephen's not being allowed to inherit the family business. Meanwhile, Mr. Undershaft and his daughter, Barbara, are at odds over her devotion to evangelical and charity work with the Salvation Army and whether her ministering does more good for the poor than Undershaft's vastly successful munitions factory, which employs many workers.
A visit to a Salvation Army meeting helped inspire Shaw to write Major Barbara. Salvation Army members attended the play's debut and were said to approve of its ultimately very pragmatic message.
San José Rep artistic director Timothy Near helms this production, which stars Stacy Ross in the title role, with Rep regular Peter Van Norden as Undershaft.
The San José Repertory Theatre presents "Major Barbara" Sept. 10Oct. 2 (previews Sept. 45, 89) at 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. Tickets are $22$52. For more information, call 408.367.7255 or see www.sjrep.com.
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