Julliard Drama SMASH, Slash & Trash

The Julliard Drama presented an adaption of George Bernard Shaw's novel: An Unsocial Socialist.  Ibsen, Shaw - seen it, done that, forget it.  The premise of this dated, farcical melodrama is the call for revolution.  The newlywed, aristocrat, Sidney, tells his befuddled bride, Henrietta, following their nuptials, he must leave "for socialism to take hold."  Sidney exhorts his convcitions that his wealth & love for her are impediments to his political callings and he must flee in order to serve the Socialist Revolution.  In Act II, set in an elitist all girls school, we find the rebellious young Agatha defying the fearsome head mistress, who is confined to a wheelchair.  Agatha on her bike & 2 roller-skating cohorts   are not the maleable young women the school demands.  Sidney turns up on the grounds in the guise of a menial workingman, Mangels (Marx/Engles.)  His talk of revolution for the classes & liberation of  women has captured both Agatha's alliance & affection.  Henrietta is related to Agatha & comes for a  visit at the school.  There she discovers who jilted lover, Sidney, rousing (& buying) converts to his cause.  Sadly, the drama students did not elevate the material.  The Headmistress played her role by rolling her eyes & blaring her nostrils.  The other actors were as fake as their wigs or their beards.  The saving grace came from Lars Berge who played Mr. Jansenius.  He brought humor & empathy to his role of the besotted & unrequited lover.  I left prior to Act III.  The students should protest against being given antiquated, droll material.