Jonathan Tafler and Miranda Foster mine every glance and nuance in the most stereotypical roles of Raina’s barking army father and his smarter wife.Ī last gift to the theatre he has so enterprisingly run (having lost his Arts Council England grant on day one in office), Miller’s re-boxing of the Chocolate Cream Soldier story finds both its comic sugar highs and occasional hard centres.Īt the Orange Tree theatre, London, until 14 January.

Kemi Awoderu and Jonah Russell achieve maximum impact-to-lines ratio as servants who, true to Shaw’s socialism, might be downstairs but have a lot going on upstairs. Rebecca Collingwood beautifully moves from Raina’s love-struck personality, adopted from operetta, to reveal the steely Shavian modern woman beneath. Bluntschli (Joseph Gunnison), Major Petkoff (Hassan Haijiyah), Catherine (Dima Alansari). As the shrugging Bluntschli, Alex Waldmann neatly peels the many layers of the Swiss mercenary. Arms and the Man, by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Hassan Hajiyah. In the opening scene of Arms and the Man, which establishes the plays embattled Balkan setting, young Raina learns of her suitors heroic exploits in combat. George Bernard Shaw and Arms and the Man Background Summary Act One Note: Beginning of play to Bluntschli’s entry Summary: Act One, Beginning of play to Bluntschli’s entry The play begins in a small town near the Dragoman Pass in Bulgaria, in the bedroom of a young woman named Raina Petkoff.

Reviews arent verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when its identified. Photograph: Ellie Kurttzįor Shaw, public persona is often a coat – surface heroes prove weak, cowards courageous, romantics pragmatic – and Paul Miller, completing a tenure as artistic director that has included six Shaws, wins performances of spectacular pretence and pretentiousness from seven impeccable actors.Īlex Bhat, as show-off Sergius, is the ultimate poseur, achieving extraordinary contortions of face and form, his preparation for signing a document resembling an Olympic javelin thrower’s run-up. Courier Corporation, 1990 - Drama - 56 pages.

Show-off … Catherine (Miranda Foster) and Sergius (Alex Bhat) in Arms and the Man. What glory is there in killing wretched fugitives In the midst of a bloody central European war, a chance moonlit encounter throws together.

Arms and man by bernard shaw