Major Barbara | Act Summaries

Timeline of Events

• A January evening

  Lady Britomart tells Stephen the family is financially dependent on the Undershaft business.

  Act 1
• Immediately after

  Stephen learns his parents separated over his father's refusal to leave the business to him.

  Act 1
• 9 p.m.

  Undershaft arrives and greets his family without knowing who is who.

  Act 1
• Later that evening

  Barbara and Undershaft extend reciprocal invitations to visit each other at their places of work.

  Act 1
• The next day

  Bill arrives behaving violently and looking for Mog.

  Act 2
• Moments later

  Barbara tries to save Bill's soul and is almost successful.

  Act 2
• Soon after

  Undershaft visits the shelter and offers to donate money to keep it running.

  Act 2
• Immediately after

  Mrs. Baines accepts Undershaft's money over Barbara's objections.

  Act 2
• Immediately after

  Angry and disillusioned, Barbara takes off her Salvation Army pin and resigns.

  Act 2
• The next day

  The family finds out Cusins and Undershaft went out and got drunk together the previous night.

  Act 3
• Immediately following

  The family visits and admires Undershaft's factory and the utopian town built for its employees.

  Act 3
• Soon after

  Cusins reveals he is technically a foundling and eligible to be heir to the business.

  Act 3
• Immediately after

  After negotiating, Undershaft offers the business to Cusins, who promises to act ethically.

  Act 3
• Immediately after

  Barbara decides she can use her position in an evil business to bring about good.

  Act 3

Act Summaries Chart