In sum and in its component parts, the production of Shaw's "Saint Joan" which Katharine Cornell is now displaying at the Opera House commands designation as the climax of a long and varied theatrical season. A superbly talented cast has been welded into an almost flawless presentation of a spectacularly brilliant, mordantly witty and powerfully moving play.

Quite naturally Miss Cornell's interpretation of the maid Joan occupies the center of attention and, as always, her acting is profoundly mature and thoroughly compelling if somewhat stylized. The supporting cast is so uniformly excellent as to defy any graduation of honors. Maurice Evans portrays the incapable weakling Dauphin with a skill that renders the character quite lovable. John Emery has taken over Brian Aherne's part as the swaggering very English Earl of Warwick and does it quite as well as did the estimable Mr. Aherne. Eduardo Ciannelli as the Bishop of Beauvais, Charles Waldron as the senior French cleric, and George Courloris as the irascible aide to Warwick all turn in admirable performances.

Somewhat concealed behind this display of histrionic fireworks, Shaw's play remains a superb bit of theatre. For two acts and a half it relates the pageant of the maid and in one scene after another sets off the spectacle with brilliant insight and unbeatable dialogue. In the epilouge Mr. Shaw takes the stage and puts his people through the amusing cynicisms which mark his very best work.

A blessing upon Miss Cornell for lighting up these sultry days with the best of American theatre.