Arms and the Man

Summary: 1983 Argent Television presentation of an adaptation of the 1982 West End revival of G. B. Shaw’s Arms and the Man.
Theatre play: Arms and the Man by [George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) [more information]
Play synopsis: A comedy ‘that takes place in 1885, during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. Raina Petkoff is engaged to the gallant Sergius Saranoff, hero of the recent Bulgarian victory over the Serbs. But she is distracted by the abrupt arrival of Captain Bluntschli, a Swiss mercenary who fought for the Serbian army. He takes refuge in her bedroom after the battle and although he is initially threatening, reveals that he carries chocolates instead of bullets. Will Raina marry the posturing Sergius or the chocolate cream soldier? Extra intrigue is provided by saucy servant girl Louka, her dour fiance Nicola, and Raina’s hand-wringing parents.' Source: https://archive.org/details/armsandtheman_1003_librivox.
Production history: The play was first produced on 21 April 1894 at the Avenue Theatre, London, and published in 1898.
Date of transmission: Sunday 16 January 1983
Time: 8.00-10.00pm
Channel: Channel 4
Production company: Argent Television

Director

Philip Casson

Producers

Michael Freeman, Peter Freeman

Lighting Director

Jimmy Boyers

Playwright

[George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Designer

Alan Tagg

Cast

Play tags: 19th-century setting; comedy; marriage; wartime, as theme or setting

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