‘Arms and the Man’ leaves audience panting for more

BY STUART DUNCAN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

N.J. THEATER REVIEW

The production of George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man" which has just opened at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is the finest and funniest staging of Shaw I personally have seen in 60 years of theater-going and 30 years of reviewing.

The title, of course, is taken from the opening line of Virgil's "Aeneid" ("Of Arms and the man I sing") hence any military hero. Shaw, as was his wont, translated that into, set in Bulgaria, satirizing the romantic attitude toward war. His hero is a Swiss mercenary who hides in the boudoir of a young lady to escape capture, beguiles her and after the fighting ends, returns to thank her and eventually win her as his wife. He is more fond of chocolate creams than bullets and hence she refers to him as her chocolate cream soldier. You will remember that sometime later Oscar Strauss would compose a romantic musical, using Shaw's plot as a base and he titled it "A Chocolate Soldier."

Hence a soldier more remembered for appearing to good effect in a uniform than for his fighting prowess.

Joe Discher has directed the work with extraordinary grace. He holds Shaw's humor on the very keen edge of a well-sharpened sword and no matter what risks he takes, the action never falls off that edge. The company of eight is superbly matched — each taking his or her role to the precise level that threatens chaos and holding it there firmly. You will have your own favorite performers: Nisi Sturgis as the delicate Raina, with a backbone of steel; Anne-Marie Cusson as her all-knowing, all-wise mother. Bill Christ as the father, pompous, yet without puffery; Helen Farmer as Louka, the family's sassy maid. Anthony Marble, in a superb turn as the head-strong fiancée, determined never to retreat from any position. Ames Adamson, as the family retainer, the straightest line in the cast; Jason Edward Bobb in a cameo role as a searching Russian officer. And the Swiss chocolate soldier, Sean Mahan, slightly bewildered at all the attention.

All is over in just under two hours and we in the audience are left, panting for more. The memories will live long.

"Arms and the Man" will continue through August 1 on the main stage at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 36 Madison Ave. in Madison. Please call the box office (973) 408-5600 for reservations and with questions or visit www.Shakespearenj.org.