OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  George Bernard (GB) Shaw 

• Setting

  London, the 1910s (The often-omitted Act III takes place in the Sierra Nevada, Spain)

• Synopsis

  John Tanner is a left-leaning intellectual and author of "The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion". He is also the marital target of a certain Ann Whitefield. Tanner is determined to escape. Whitefield is equally determined to succeed. An satirical look at the conventions governing relations between the sexes, presented as a modern re-telling of the myth of Don Juan.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  6

• Female

  5

• Total

  11

• Cast Notes

  Act III, Don Juan in Hell, features a further 4 roles, one female and three male. See relevant entry.

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  23 May 1905

• Production Notes

  The production listed here, like many after it, opted to cut out the Third Act, "Don Juan in Hell", which did not see public performance until the Royal Court revival of the play in June 1907. "Don Juan in Hell" has since been performed as a separate play in its own right; see separate playography entry.

• Venue Notes

  First presented at the Royal Court Theatre, London.

• Irish Premiere Notes

  First performed in Ireland at the Abbey Theatre in 1917.

Source Of Information

Additional information for this entry was taken from Schrank & Demastes' 'Irish Playwrights 1880-1995: A Research and Production Sourcebook'.