California Shakespeare Theatre: Shaw's Arms and the Man, 2003.

If Shaw's St. Joan parallels Henry VI Part 1, his play Arms and the Man is his updating of elements of the Henry IV-Henry V series. Sergius is a headstrong militarist like Hotspur, but his skeptical opponent Bluntschi proves more dominant, like Falstaff. Not only does his name echo that of the admirable Sir Walter Blunt in Shakespeare but he shows most of the cynical attitudes of Falstaff, even using his pistol holster for chocolates as comfort food on the battlefield (Falstaff prefers to stock his holster with a sherry flask for similar reasons). Blunstschli appears cowardly like Falstaff, but both figures prosper better than naiver heroes. Most Shakespeare companies diversify their repertoire with analogous more modern plays. Image courtesy of Jay Yamada and C.S.T.