George Bernard Shaw

Arms And The Man George Bernard Shaw

Pre-World War I: Bulgaria. The Battle of Slivnitsa has just been won by Bulgarian troops, commanded by Russian Generals against their rivals, the Serbians, commanded by Austrian Generals. We find ourselves in the home of the affluent Petkoff's, home to Catherine and her daughter, Raina (who is engaged to a man named Sergius Saranoff - a successful Calvary officer). In the midst of all of this, a Swiss mercenary officer (named Bluntschli) breaks into the home. Obsessed with chocolate over bullets, he is pursued by Russian officers, but finds himself an odd safe-harbor in the hands of Catherine and Raina - whose fiancé has just been involved in a battle which could have been Bluntschli's last. From there, we are served up a heaping dish of comedy tempered with social commentary, geopolitical strife, and a few romantic tendrils to round out the work.