Arms and the Man
Hailed by George Orwell as “the wittiest play” G.B. Shaw ever wrote, Arms and the Man is a true classic in the history of theater, blending social commentary, romantic comedy, fun and lively characters, and crackling dialogue that leaps off the page! We are in the 1880s, and Raina Petkoff is a young Bulgarian woman, worried about the war her father and fiancé are currently fighting. No sooner is she warned that enemy soldiers may be nearby, than Captain Bluntschli, a war-weary enemy, breaks in and holds her hostage. To their surprise, and the audience's delight, these two connect and build a mutual respect... and maybe even the beginnings of a romance! So what will Raina do when Captain Bluntschli reappears after the war, and is welcomed warmly as “our friend, the enemy!” by her father and fiancé? Ken Womble's energetic adaptation shortens the play to 75 minutes, focusing on the comedy and romance, while making it an accessible introduction to Shaw's classic for young actors to perform!
Productions
Behind The Scenes
With Ken Womble
Q.: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS ADAPTATION?
I have a special interest in Arms and the Man, having taught the play for many years in my acting styles class at the University of Northern Colorado. Among the George Bernard Shaw plays worked on in the class, Arms is probably my favorite. It makes a critical statement about war by contrasting the idealistic qualities we sometimes believe about it with its brutal reality. This is an anti-war play, written at a time when war was widely held to be a noble endeavor. I wanted to make this thought provoking and funny play more accessible to all theatre creators.
Q.: WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IN CREATING THIS ADAPTATION?
Because Shaw was such a gifted playwright, it was challenging to decide on cuts. One large cut was the character Nicola. I think without this character the play flows more smoothly, with no loss of clarity.
Q.: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THIS ADAPTATION?
I want theatre people who don't know Shaw to discover him! The roles in Arms let actors make big choices because its characters have big dreams, and they are very funny.
Q.: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
I hope you have a great time working on Arms and the Man!