Review: ARMS AND THE MAN Is A Humorous and Insightful Study On Society And The Romantic Notions Of Soldiers And War.

Saturday 26th September 2015, 8pm, Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Sydney Theatre Company's latest offering, ARMS AND THE MAN, directed by Richard Cottrell, blends George Bernard Shaw's commentary on the absurdity of the glorification of war and conventions of society with a visual feast of physical comedy and bright white sets. Whilst it is over a century since it was first staged, the statements made are still relevant in the 21st Century as wars are still fought, society is still divided on money and young minds are still filled with romantic ideals.

Michael Scott-Mitchell's bright white turntable set looks like a romantic greeting card with lattice work cutouts with Arabic motifs, a nod to the Bulgarian location, pale dove patterned wallpaper and pale grey and white furniture, all in front of a simplistic white mountain and blue sky backdrop. There is an simplicity to the set, in contrast with Julie Lynch's sumptuous costumes, in keeping with the comment matriarch Catherine Petkoff makes stating that the family has been one of the "richest and most important families in the country"..."we can go back for nearly 20 years". .

The story revolves around the Petkoff house, in a small town in Bulgaria in 1885 during the Bulgarian War. The young woman, Raina's (Andrea Demetriades) head is filled with romantic notions of love and war and her parents, Major Paul Petkoff (William Zappa) and Catherine Petkoff (Deborah Kennedy), and her betrothed Major Sergius Saranoff (Charlie Cousins) all belong to Bulgaria's newly elite. The Petkoff family is attended to by manservant Nicola (Brandon Burke) and maid Louka (Olivia Rose) who both aspire to more than a life of service. As the news of Major Saranoff's success is met with delight by Raina and Catherine, enamored with the notion of a 'gallant' soldier, a point that that Raina eventually questions as being a construct of literature and opera, the opposing Serbians are retreating through their town. As she is left alone in her bedroom, a mud and blood splattered, disheveled Serbian soldier enters through her balcony window. Following the concealment of the soldier from the Russian Officer (Jason Kos), it is revealed that the man, Captain Bluntschli (Mitchell Butel) is a Swiss professional soldier, working for the Serbians who chooses to carry sustenance in the form of chocolate over bullets.

Demetriades presents Raina as a blend of older than her years and spoilt girl and combined with her variability of tone is at first off-putting until it becomes clear that Raina, her parents and Major Saranoff are all trying to live up to their ideals of what the upper class should sound like and how they should behave. As Bluntschli awakens Raina to the realities of war, where real soldiers want to get out alive her affections move but the social convention that she requires an advantageous marriage force her to continue the engagement to Major Saranoff. Cousins gives Major Saranoff a bumbling, pompous air with ridiculous coiffure as he returns after war, but sees his deficiencies as a soldier, despite his apparent achievements. He is slippery as he seeks to demonstrate his love for Raina whilst showing Louka attention.

As Raina's mother Catherine, Kennedy carries the weight of a mother seeking to demonstrate her family is worthy of being upper class and seeking to secure a good marriage for her daughter. She has fabulous dryness about her delivery and physicality, including wonderful expressions that reinforce the formidableness of her character. Zappa, as Major Petkoff, is like Saranoff, somewhat absurd as an ineffectual officer and 'want to be' aristocrat that Catherine and Raina treat as a doddery fool as they seek to keep him in the dark about the goings on within the house. As maid Louka, Olivia Rose retains an abrupt roughness of Louka's country origins despite the commentary that Nicola has taught her how to distance herself from the image of a farm girl.

The standout performance comes from Mitchell Butel as Raina's 'Chocolate Cream Soldier' Captain Bluntschli who captures the truth of war and of love. As Bluntschli sees the ridiculousness of Raina's notions of war and soldiers and witnesses the posturing that occurs in the Petkoff's house, Butel's facial expressions are delicious as he convey Bluntschli's thoughts without seeking to belittle. His brilliant physicality adds to the humor in Shaw's text, giving Bluntschli an endearing quality as he convinces Raina to hide him. Butel gives Bluntschli an element of innocence that comes through in his voice and his manner as he has nothing to hide and isn't obsessed the airs and graces the Petkoffs and Major Saranoff put on. He also conveys Bluntschli's maturity as he sees the reality of war, love and life whilst the others hold idealistic romantic notions.

ARMS AND THE MAN is a lighthearted story with a deeper message that is still relevant. People still sign up for military service thinking there is glory in service and sacrifice. People still strive to belong to 'better' social circles and relationships aren't always based on real love. This production is true to Shaw's intent that these concepts aren't forced upon the audience but are the undertone of a clever love story filled with lots of laughs and captivating dialogue.

ARMS AND THE MAN

Sydney Theatre Company

Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

14 September - 31 October 2015

Photo: Grant Sparkes-Carroll

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