Major Barbara presented by ShawChicago at Ruth Page Center For Arts

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...The prickly showdown between idealism and pragmatism is stated both forcefully and wittily in some of Shaw's crispest writing, though the play—written a decade before World War I launched an era of mechanized mass slaughter—doesn't hold up well in our age of drone strikes and suicide bombers. ShawChicago's concert reading, performed on a bare stage by actors at music stands reading from scripts, boasts fine performances by Jack Hickey as Undershaft (ruthless and enlightened in equal measure), Barbara Zahora as the passionately earnest Barbara, and Doug MacKechnie as a philosopher enamored of Barbara but drawn to Andrew's view."

Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended

"...As in most of Shaw’s plays, thoughts and words far exceed the importance of deeds, making the playwright’s works ideal for ShawChicago’s readers theatre form of productions. Once again, Robert Scogin demonstrates his knowledge, talent and finesse as the area’s premier scholar and producer of both Bernard Shaw’s works and concert reading style productions. For audiences seeking an entertaining, thoughtful play, performed by an accomplished cast and stripped of all distractions, falderal and gimmicks, this production is “Damn the torpedoes—full speed ahead!”"

The Fourth Walsh - Recommended

"...MAJOR BARBARA is provocative and witty. There is plenty of ideologies to contemplate. And although some of Shaw’s soliloquies could definitely use a good trimming, the story is engaging on multiple levels and from multiple angles."