Arms and the Man

Summary

1948 BBC live studio production of Bernard Shaw’s comedy 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 20 June 1948

Time

8.30-10.15pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Harold Clayton

Playwright

[George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Antony Holles	Major Petkoff
Margaret Leighton	Raina
Barbara Lott	Louka
Clement McCallin	Major Sergius Saranoff
Eric Phillips	Nicola
Ellen Pollock	Catherine
Cyril Raymond	Capt. Bluntschli
John Westbrook	An Officer

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 8.30pm on Thursday 24 June 1948.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

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

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 18 June 1948 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing with photograph, p. 26; article by John Swift ' "Sweetie" was Nervous - but Mr Shaw Approved’, p. 25; article, pp. 24-25