The Chocolate Soldier – A Rehearsed Reading

When Oscar Straus approached George Bernard Shaw for permission to turn his play Arms and the Man into a comic opera, he was refused. Shaw forbade Straus and his librettist to use any of his characters’ names, or any of his dialogue, and refused to accept any royalties. He did however allow the story to be re-told. Financially it was a very unwise move as the opera bouffe went on to earn far more at the box office than the play ever has.