2008 Woodie Awards
A love and war comedy
'Arms and the Man' debuts today in Bush Theatre
By: David Veselenak
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News
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"She's very dynamic about things, which makes it 10 times more fun," the Ohio sophomore said about her character.
University Theatre will host "Arms and the Man," the comedy by George Bernard Shaw, this week in Moore Hall's Bush Theatre. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The play, based during the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885, is about Raina and her fiancé, Sergius Saranoff. After Saranoff leaves for war, Raina falls in love with a soldier she originally sees as a coward.
Meyer said this play will be a new experience in her theater career here at CMU.
"I've never done a real period show," she said.
The play is widely seen as one that exposes war for what it is, not romantic, said Keeley Stanley-Bohn, a communication and dramatic arts department assistant professor and director of the play.
"It's a very lively play," Stanley-Bohn said. "It's funny, but also thought-provoking."
Stanley-Bohn said she helped choose this play because of its attitudes toward war and the time period when it was based.
"It was something I was interested in directing," she said.
The play has seven main characters and actors have been practicing since mid-February for the five-day stretch of performances.
Mount Pleasant senior Josh Martin said the rehearsals can be rather time-consuming.
"The rehearsals will go about six days a week," he said.
Martin, who is playing Nichola the servant, will perform for the last time at CMU this week. He said "Arms and the Man" is a great show to finish with.
"I'm really glad I'm going out on this show," he said. "It's really meaningful to me."
Although two months seems like a long time to prepare a play, Stanley-Bohn said it has gone by much quicker than expected, especially with spring break.
Meyer has been acting in University Theatre since her freshman year and began in the production "Urinetown." She said she has enjoyed the few shows in which she has performed.
Meyer also said "Arms and the Man" is a great show to end the academic year.
"It's kind of like higher British comedy. The language is fun to listen to," she said. "The playwright wrote it beautifully."
Tickets can be purchased at the Central Box Office in the lower level of the Bovee University Center or by calling 1-888-CMU-0111 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for senior citizens and students with ID and $7 for the general public.
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