Gurney
SOLDIER tells the story of a German officer trapped on the banks of the River Styx. His name is Heinrich Weiss, and he is desperately searching for coins so that he and his men can secure passage across the waters...coins that the audience members have been handed as they walk in the door of the theatre. In the pursuit of his objective, Heinrich will reveal his own personal history as well as the origins and facets of man's love affair with war: the heroism, the glory, and the honor of it. But he will also delve into the nastier side of it: the blood, the hatred, and the murder of other human beings. By the end of his attempt, Heinrich will get more than he bargained for when he first approached these strangers on the riverbank; he will have to confront his own personal demons and defend his actions and the actions of his unit, now perceived as horrendous crimes in the annals of history. What in soldiers and war appeals to us so much? Why do we forgive certain acts of violence, but not others? Is it possible to feel compassion for the Enemy? What do we risk by allowing ourselves to feel that compassion, and what do we lose by withholding it?
