The Apple Cart

The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza, a wry political satire, was completed in December 1928 and first performed in Warsaw (in Polish) in June 1929. Its English premiere was at the first Malvern Drama Festival in August 1929. It is a satirical comedy about several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters, often in lengthy monologues. Its plot concerns a monarch, the fictional English King Magnus, who is assaulted by his elected cabinet. The elected cabinet feels that the king is too meddlesome and threatens to resign if he does not sign an ultimatum, which in effect would strip him of his authority and turn him into a powerless figurehead. Either way, the king would be doomed, without a cabinet or without power—his dilemma is the play’s catalyst. However, the King Magnus spars with, and ultimately outwits, Prime Minister Proteus and his cabinet, who seek to strip the monarchy of its remaining political influence. A political debate starts in which many sides and problems are discussed and revealed. A brief interlude on marriage and adultery, as well as a scene with an American ambassador mocking full democracy and capitalism are also the parts of the political debate. The King Magnus opposes the corporation “Breakages Limited”, which controls politicians and impedes technical progress. In fact, this play vituperates that any kind of government—democracy, autocracy, and monarchy—are all making the best of a bad situation, and none of them is doing very well. Thus, coupled with Shaw’s astute insight and sparkling wit, the play succeeds brilliantly in exposing the unreality of both democracy and royalty as our idealists conceive them. His adept portrayal of Breakages Limited offers foresight and perspective into the “destruction, waste, and disease” brought by private capitalism that are all too topical today.