ED2015 3/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

The American Soldier (Douglas Taurel)

By Andy Leask | Published on Tuesday 11 August 2015

This is a striking one-man show, exploring the sacrifices made by American servicemen and acknowledging the terrible impact of war on soldiers and their families alike. It’s powerful and moving, even if at times it seems to be drawing on the pop culture cliches of tough sergeants and stoner veterans in Vietnam. The greatest strength of the piece is that the stories – ranging from the American Revolution to the current conflict in Afghanistan – are drawn from the accounts of actual soldiers. This undoubtedly lends the script immediacy, authenticity and poignancy. Unfortunately, it also means the whole thing lacks a coherent overarching narrative to hold it together, which dulls the impact ever so slightly.

Zoo Southside, until 22 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Andrew Leask]