Event

Arms and the Man

Pie Man Theatre Company presents Arms and the Man, George Bernard Shaw's classic "anti-romantic comedy", from February 16-26, 2017 at Mayo Street Arts Center in Portland, ME. Arms and the Man is a witty and all-too-relevant satire, a light-seeming comedy that lays bare the hypocrisy of modern society's illusions in both love and war. A play that George Orwell, writing half a century after its initial publication, called "probably the wittiest... [Shaw] ever wrote... [and] the most telling."

Bulgaria and Serbia are at war. In Bulgaria, Raina Petkoff has just learned of the Battle of Slivnitza, in which her fiancee, the dashing Sergius Saranoff, has led the gallant cavalry charge the secured the victory for the Bulgarian forces. Into her bedroom and her life comes a man, a Swiss professional soldier fighting for the Serbian side, on the run from the pursuing Bulgarian forces in the rout. Impulsively, Raina decides to shelter the man - her "chocolate cream soldier", after he devours the candies she offers him - and little does she know that this simple act of compassion, this seeing the man as a fellow human being rather than the enemy, will alter her life - and the lives of those around her - in profound ways.

Shaw's classic comedy springs to life in the round at the intimate Mayo Street Arts Center, under the sharp direction of Pie Man co-founder Stephanie Ross. Buy your tickets today!