One of the great comedies of English theatre, George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man will be performed at the Capitol Theatre by a stellar cast of Nelson-based professionals this Halloween weekend, beginning 8 p.m., Thursday, October 31 and running through to Sunday, November 3.
Arms and the Man was first produced in 1894 and was Shaw's earliest commercial success. He was called onto stage after the curtain, where he received enthusiastic applause.
However, amidst the cheers, one audience member booed. Shaw replied, "My dear fellow, I quite agree with you, but what are we two against so many?"
Writing 50 years later George Orwell said, "It is probably the wittiest play he ever wrote, the most flawless technically, and in spite of being a very light comedy, its moral — that war is not a wonderful, romantic adventure — still needs to be told.”
Set in a fictionalized 19th century Bulgaria, Arms is a comic love story about Raina, a starry-eyed young noble-woman (Carly Brandel), engaged to a dashing cavalry officer (Lucas Myers), who finds a highly pragmatic soldier (Phil Sarsons) hiding in her bedroom. Thrown into the mix are a beautiful serving girl (Avia Moore), Raina’s befuddled parents (Bessie Wapp and Richard Rowberry) and a scheming butler (Martin Carver). Directed by Geoff Burns, it promises to be the theatrical event of the season.
Tickets are $21 for adults or $16 for students, available online at capitoltheatre.bc.ca or at the Capitol box office, Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4:30 p.m.
Updates and rehearsal photos can be seen at the TNT Playhouse Facebook page.