The parlor of the Christ Church Parish House should be kept full this weekend with devotees of Bernard Shaw or Leslie Cass. Both artists have their admirers and both have done much to warrant the adulation. In this case, those who ventured out to see the lovely Miss Cass will be considerably better rewarded than the Shaw fans. For only if a person has never read the play, might he be able to sit back and accept the Canterbury Players' interpretation. He might not enjoy the evening much but neither would he be moved to rebellion.

At last night's uninterrupted dress rehearsal, there was only one high point, one performer, one reason for watching Candida: that was Miss Cass. She was always Shaw's wise, strong woman, speaking the celebrated dogma with sweetness and humor. Particularly in the mashy last act is she at top form, supplying the pace which other performers and director David Green neglected. She seemed to have thought about her lines and her part, weighing the author's intent and then blending them into a spirit and charm which is irresistible.

Because Miss Cass is a professional in every best sense, it often seems that she is the one out of step in the production; there is no doubt that she points up every other fault in the show. The rest of the cast ranges from competent to far worse, but unfortunately the former are all in minor roles. Margaret Groome, for example, as Prossy is sharp when she should be and yielding when Shaw has a point to make. Burgess, played by David Brooke, misses most of the opportunities for the broad comedy of the second act. But he has his accent pretty well under control, pronounced and yet distinguishable. Keith Gardiner, as Lexy, with the smallest part is unexceptionable. Were all the players as adequate as Gardiner, there would be less complaint.

But they are not. Earle Fdgriton's Morell loses every element of the minister's character which should make him attractive. Shaw's version is genuinely hearty and morally scrubbed, perhaps more a man of instinct than thought, but his are good, deep instincts. Instead, Fdgerton is posing and sniveling. In a role which demands naturalness above all, he is always artificial, or worse, sanctimonious and prim.

The intimate, comfortable atmosphere of the Parish House, as you might expect, is just right for the Reverend Morell's study, and the production benefits from its setting. If you are undecided about seeing the play between now and Monday, why not go ahead? You may not be satisfied with the Shaw, but I think you'll agree that Miss Cass is an exceptional actress.