I'm sure that those who have started the play have noted the very long, elaborate stage directions. This was because Shaw wanted his plays to be experienced by as large an audience as possible--including those who didn't or couldn't go to a theatre. He gave indications on the personalities of the characters and how the lines were spoken as well as exact descriptions of the stage settings. Further, the description quite frequently give indications of relationships and attitudes--so they should be read carefully. The result is that it is very easy for a reader to create a mental image of the play when reading. Thus, Shaw was quite happy if people read his plays rather than saw them at a theatre. However, this has led to the accusation that the plays don't have fluidity on stage.
