they did in London.Although major London productionsofmany of 5 his earlier pieces were delayed for years,they are still being performed there.Examples include Mrs.Warren's Profession(1893). Arms and the Man(1894),Candida(1894)and You Never Can Tell (1897). Shaw's plays,like those of Oscar Wilde,contained incisive humour 5 which was exceptional among playwrights ofthe Victorianera;both authors are remembered for their comedy.However,Shaws wittiness should not obscure his important role in revolutionizing British drama.In the Victorian Era,the London stage had been regarded as a place for frothy,sentimental entertainment.Shaw made it a forum for considering moral,political and economic issues,possibly his most 5 lasting and important contribution to dramatic art.In this,he considered himselfindebted to Henrik Ibsen,who pioneeredmodern realistic drama,meaning dramadesigned to heighten awarenessof some important social issue.Significantly,Widowers'Houses-an example ofthe realistic genre-was completed after William Archer,Shaw's friend,had translated some ofIbsen's playsto English and Shaw had written The Quintessence of Ibsensism.1391 As Shaw's experience and popularity increased,his plays and prefaces became more voluble about reforms he advocated,withoutthey did in London. Although major London productions of many of his earlier pieces were delayed for years, they are still being performed there. Examples include Mrs. Warren's Profession (1893), Arms and the Man (1894), Candida (1894) and You Never Can Tell (1897). Shaw's plays, like those of Oscar Wilde, contained incisive humour, which was exceptional among playwrights of the Victorian era; both authors are remembered for their comedy. However, Shaw's wittiness should not obscure his important role in revolutionizing British drama. In the Victorian Era, the London stage had been regarded as a place for frothy, sentimental entertainment. Shaw made it a forum for considering moral, political and economic issues, possibly his most lasting and important contribution to dramatic art. In this, he considered himself indebted to Henrik Ibsen, who pioneered modern realistic drama, meaning drama designed to heighten awareness of some important social issue. Significantly, Widowers' Houses —an example of the realistic genre — was completed after William Archer, Shaw's friend, had translated some of Ibsen's plays to English and Shaw had written The Quintessence of Ibsensism. [39] As Shaw's experience and popularity increased, his plays and prefaces became more voluble about reforms he advocated, without 5’ 5’ 5’ 5’