Arms and the Man October 31, 2006

The deliriously romantic Raina thrills to the sights, sounds and grandeur of war. Then one night a battle-stained soldier drops into her bedroom, holds her at gunpoint and asks for a piece of chocolate. 'Arms and the Man,' Bernard Shaw's delicious send-up of the romantic view of war, has enjoyed continuous popularity since its premiere in 1894, surprising the playwright himself. After the opening performance, Shaw took the stage to tumultuous applause -- and boos from one noisy dissenter. Shaw called out cheerfully, "My friend, I agree with you completely. But who are you and I against so many?" As young Raina opens her eyes to the truths of war and courage we are one with audiences for more than a century who have been amused and touched by her struggle to choose the right world view -- and the man -- for her.