KU News Release

LAWRENCE — University Theatre at the University of Kansas will stage George Bernard Shaw’s biting comedy “Arms and the Man” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-27 and March 4-6 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.

One of Shaw’s first commercial successes, “Arms and the Man” was first produced at London’s Avenue Theatre in spring 1894. The title is taken from the opening line of Virgil’s “Aeneid,” Arma virumque cano (Of arms and the man I sing). The play opened on Broadway in fall 1894.

John Gronbeck-Tedesco, professor of theatre, directs the KU production. Philip Schroeder, Olathe graduate student, is scenic designer; Dennis Christilles, associate professor of theatre, is lighting designer; Kaitlin Voelker, Lincoln, Neb., senior, is costume and make-up designer; Leslie Bennett, assistant professor of theatre, is period and movement consultant; and Paul Meier, professor of theatre, is diction coach.

Gronbeck-Tedesco said the play is about nationalism and the human addiction to war.

“One of Shaw's intentions in writing ‘Arms and the Man’ was to show the foolishness of war,” he said. “He intended to present audiences with the reality behind their foolish ideas of clean, pretty, honorable war.”

Set during the 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War, the play’s heroine is a young Bulgarian woman, Raina, who is engaged to one of the heroes of that war. One night, a Swiss voluntary soldier in the Serbian army bursts through her bedroom window and begs her to hide him so he is not killed. Although she complies, she thinks the man a coward, especially when he tells her he does not carry pistol cartridges, but chocolates. When the battle dies down, the young woman and her mother sneak the soldier out of the house.

The war ends and Raina’s fiancé returns, but she begins to find him both foolhardy and tiresome. When the Swiss soldier unexpectedly returns, Raina realizes he sees through her romantic posturing but respects her as a woman. News arrives that the young soldier’s father has just died, leaving him a grand inheritance of Swiss luxury hotels, Raina realizes the hollowness of her romantic ideals and her fiancé's values and proclaims her love for the mild-mannered soldier.

Reserved seat tickets for “Arms and the Man” are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982, and Lied Center, 864-ARTS, and online at kutheatre.com. Tickets are $18 for the public, $10 for students and $17 for senior citizens and KU faculty and staff. All major credit cards are accepted for phone and online orders.

Members of the cast for the KU production are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school and role.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66046
Spencer Sassaman Lott, senior, theatre major, son of Hunter and Nancy Lott of Rochester, Minn., Lawrence Free State High School, Nicola.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66216
Benjamin Richard Sullivan, senior, journalism and theatre majors, son of Leslie and Richard Sullivan, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Captain Bluntschli.

From Olathe 66061
Cassidy Kirch, senior, theatre major, daughter of Tim Kirch, Olathe East High School, Catherine Petkoff.

ARKANSAS
From Bella Vista 72715
Maggie Parker, sophomore, theatre and art history majors, daughter of Brenda Parker-Pautsch, Bentonville High School, Louka.

MARYLAND
From Williamsport 21795
Ed Schubel, sophomore, theatre/voice major, son of Scott and Nettie Schubel, Williamsport High School, Russian Officer/Servant.

MISSOURI
From Kirkwood 63122
Festus Wade Shaughnessy, sophomore, English major, son of Festus and Mary Claire Shaughnessy, Kirkwood High School, General Paul Petkoff.

OHIO
From Solon 44139
Tali Beth Friedman, senior, theatre major, daughter of Roz and Ted Friedman, Solon High School, Raina Petkoff.

OKLAHOMA
From Bixby 74008
Garrett Lawson, junior, theatre/voice major, son of Robert Lawson and Desiree Jett, Bixby High School, Major Sergius Saranoff.