Actress Molly Nelson has been thinking about her latest stage role a lot — in part because even seasonal sounds in the community remind her of what she’s doing today through Sunday.
And those sounds would be the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign bells.
The ringers focus Nelson on her current effort because she plays one of the leads of Major Barbara Undershaft, an idealistic Salvation Army leader reaching out to the struggling in turn-of-the-century London, in Columbus North High School’s presentation of George Bernard Shaw’s somewhat comic production “Major Barbara.” The show will unfold at the school’s Judson Erne Auditorium, 1400 25th St.
“I definitely notice the bell ringers a lot more,” Nelson said. “Playing a major like this certainly gets you into the Salvation Army spirit. It also shows me a lot of what the Salvation Army is really like, taking time out of their lives to help others really needing it. And that’s what Major Barbara is doing.”
At least until her father, wealthy munitions company owner Andrew Undershaft shows up on the scene some 20 years after deserting his family. He fancies himself a savior of sorts, determined to show his daughter that her Savior needs his help in the form of big money. But the passionate major wants nothing to do with his “tainted” funds or those from a local distiller.
Soon enough, a kettle full of questions arise, one of which is this: Does a Christian ministry’s altruistic and use of donations for the suffering somehow “redeem” funds linked to war and the devil’s brew?
In a preface to the play, Shaw quoted a Salvation Army officer saying that the ministry “would take money from the devil himself and be only too glad to get it out of his hands and into God’s.”
Director John Johnson first read the play in college, and remains struck by the fact that “I can watch it every day and still get something new from it.”
“I’m trying my best not to give definitive answers here, honestly,” Johnson said. “And that’s because I do think that people need to go and wrestle with these things. And sadly, in this polarized world that we now live in, people too often already have their minds made up (on issues). And it’s either one way or the other.
“And that’s what this play is about — all these absolutes coming together and eventually finding out what stands.”
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What: Columbus North High School’s presentation of the George Bernard Shaw play "Major Barbara."
When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where: North’s Judson Erne Auditorium, 1400 25th St.
Tickets: $8, available at the door.
Information: Facebook page for North Drama or the school drama department at 812-376-4236.
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