The Recruiting Officer

Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh: "My, my, how little the chicanery of warmongering changes in 300 years. George Farquhar's 1706 comedy The Recruiting Officer portrays the efforts of the title character to trick poor young men into military service with promises of career opportunity, adventure and signing bonuses -- and not a little outlandish deception. Even more incisive is the undisguised glee of the upper classes in turning the less fortunate into cannon fodder, contrasted with their anguish at the thought that one of their own loved ones could end up in the army. Of course, they're not above pulling strings, or even bribery, to prevent that."