  The Einstein equation in D dimensions, if restricted to the class of
space-times possessing n = D - 2 commuting hypersurface-orthogonal Killing
vectors, can be equivalently written as metric-dilaton gravity in 2 dimensions
with n scalar fields. For n = 2, this results reduces to the known reduction of
certain 4-dimensional metrics which include gravitational waves. Here, we give
such a representation which leads to a new proof of the Birkhoff theorem for
plane-symmetric space--times, and which leads to an explanation, in which sense
two (spin zero-) scalar fields in 2 dimensions may incorporate the (spin two-)
gravitational waves in 4 dimensions. (This result should not be mixed up with
well--known analogous statements where, however, the 4-dimensional space-time
is supposed to be spherically symmetric, and then, of course, the equivalent
2-dimensional picture cannot mimic any gravitational waves.) Finally, remarks
on hidden symmetries in 2 dimensions are made.
