Arms and the Man
by George Bernard Shaw
Jeff Recommended!

review by Ed Vincent

Arms and the Man, gets its title from the beginning of  Virgil's Aeneid: "Arma virumque cano" translated as
"Of arms and the man I sing".  It was premiered  on
April 21, 1894 and was a winner in the time.  It is still
a winner at Oak Park's Festival Theater's production.

The drama begins near the end of the 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War, not known by many today and those who have heard of it have probably seen this play performed on Broadway or
in film.  It begins with loads of humor and mirth.  We find two women speaking grandly about victory in war, chivalry,
calvary charges and vanquishing the enemy.  Grand Dames
excited about warfare smells like irony cooking in the kettles
of comic consciousness, and that's what the author planned.

Major Sergius Saranoff, played wonderfully by Michael Perez, is declared by the Raina Petkoff, played by Jhenai Mootz, and her mother Catherine Petkoff, played by Eva Brenamen as a noble looking young man, gazing at his
portrait on the mantle.  When Major Sergius Saranoff
enters the scene we find him filled with tales of warfare
and his native culture.  He proudly remarks that his father
died at 98 years of age and never took a proper bath,
but that he washes up once a week, whether needing it
or not. 

The tongue and cheek bits of humor shine brightly from
the performers and the plot begins its topsy turvey gyrations
bringing the drama to a finale as twisted as any DNA spiral
helix.  It is a fun script and the tremendous acting in the
congenial setting of the Mills House is a splendid mix of
intellect and talent.

Jhenai Mootz, as Raina (rah-EE-na) Petkoff is a charming and gifted actress who performs her roles with clarity and
passion.  Adam Breske, in the role of Captain Bluntschili
brings the Swiss machine of a man to life with chocolates,
measured lust, and with charming results.  This is a
great production with abounding talent and cozy settings,
come by a enjoy the show.

Cast and Crew
Captain Bluntschli - Adam Breske
Major Sergius Saranoff - Michael Perez
Raina Petkoff- Seinna Harris (Mar. 7 - 15)
Raina Petkoff- Jhenai Mootz (Mar 18 - 29)
Louka (servant girl) - Kathy Logelin
Nikola (house servant)- Daniel Bakken
Catherine Petkoff - Eva Brenamen
Major Paul Petcoff - Dan Loftus
Russian Soldier - Matt Tucker

Understudies:
Connie Anderko
Zoe Palko
Matt Tucker

A Study Guide for the Play

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Arms and the Man
by George Bernard Shaw
directed by Kevin Christopher Fox

Defined by Shaw as an Anti-Romance, this play, set during the four-month-long Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885-56, is a satire on the foolishness of glorifying war, as well as a satire on the foolishiness of basing your affections on idealistic notions of love. While the rich young lady Raina worshipfully awaits the return of her heroic fiancè Sergius, she finds herself irresistably drawn to Bluntschli, a disheveled soldier from the defeated Serbian camp, fleeing from Bulgarian victors. Raina must choose between the foppish romantic Sarnoff who, for all the clefts in his chin, is more toy than soldier, and the prosaic realist Bluntshli, who knows how to fight a war but carries chocolate creams onto the field instead of bullets.

Cast and Crew
Bluntschli - Adam Breske
Sergius - Michael Perez
Raina - Seinna Harris (Mar. 7 - 15)
Raina - Jhenai Mootz (Mar 18 - 29)
Louka - Kathy Logelin
Nikola - Daniel Bakken
Catherine - Eva Brenamen
Petcoff - Dan Loftus
Russian Soldier - Matt Tucker

Understudies:
Connie Anderko
Zoe Palko
Matt Tucker

Performances March 7 - 29
Wednesday - Saturday: 7:30
Sunday: 4:00; also Sunday at 7:30 on 3/22 & 3/29

Wednesdays & Thursdays $22 adults, $17 students/seniors
Fridays through Sundays, and Monday 3/9 $27 adults, $22 students/seniors

Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw presented Wednesdays through Sundays March 7th through March 29th at Historic Pleasant Home. Previews March 7th & 8th at 7:30, opening Monday March 9th. Click here for more information, or here to buy tickets online.

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