IU drama presents 'Major Barbara'

Morality or money — which can better help the poor? And what about their souls? These are the questions Major Barbara faces when her mission to save souls is thrown off course by her armaments-dealing father.

The IU Department of Theater and Drama’s production of “Major Barbara” opens 7:30 p.m. Friday, with shows Feb. 27 and March 2 through 6, with an additional show at 2 p.m. March 6.

Barbara Undershaft, played by sophomore Hannah Kennedy, is an officer in the Salvation Army. She reunites with her wealthy father Andrew Undershaft for the first time in years, and the two start a competition of conversion. Barbara is determined to show her father the power of Christian salvation, and Andrew wants his daughter to get over her moral disgust of his profession.

When the Salvation Army accepts a huge donation from the Undershaft arms company, Barbara is horrified, resigns from her position and is left to find another way to continue her Christian mission.

“Barbara initially takes a very absolute view on what is right, and then she realizes that she can adapt and still be true to herself while still making a difference,” Kennedy said. “It’s also a love story and a story about family. It’s definitely not an old, English-living drama. It has big ideas and important things to say, but it’s also really funny and really fun.”

The George Bernard Shaw comedy was first published in 1907, but graduate student and director Sabrina Lloyd has set the play in the 1960s.

“By looping it forward in time we get to see the cyclical nature of human beings,” Lloyd said. “They were the same in 1907 as they were in 1964 and as they are now. You have your poser couple, you have your educated snob, you have your militant extremist.”

Even without the update, Lloyd said many college students can relate to the story.
“It centers on young people, their decisions and their place in life,” she said. “Barbara is a young woman just breaking out of her family life and trying to become her own person.”

Sean Magill, a sophomore portraying Barbara’s brother, said he thinks the play is about the power to do good and what it means to use that power.

“Power for its own sake isn’t really a good thing if you’re going to abuse it,” Magill said. “If the good people take the power to affect change, even if that be through dangerous and destructive technology, then it’s much better than people who are out for power and money for their own gain.”