ABSTRACT
. . .these barren folk do make good play material. ‘Uncle Vanya’ for instance, whether one believes it or not as an aggregation of misfits remains a masterpiece ‘in the Russian manner’ that might well tempt even an unbearded dramatist to go and do likewise. The comparison with ‘Heartbreak House’ is, of course, irresistible. One can quite see why and how Mr. Shaw failed. Apart from any question of nationality, ‘Uncle Vanya’ has its own peculiar blend of poignant reality and ironic humour. It is a humour wholly implicit and never brought to the surface. . . . This is naturally alien to Mr. Shaw's temperament. What more awful fate for him than that of not being recognised as clever? . . .
