Denude, A One Act Play

"Denude," a one-act play set in a Vietnam-era jungle, follows Trappist and Menses, two soldiers trapped in a foxhole. Trappist, seasoned and philosophical, tries to connect with Menses, a fearful newcomer. As tensions rise and danger looms, Menses's panic leads to a tragic escalation, culminating in Trappist's death. Afterward, a surreal sequence unfolds where Trappist appears as a ghost, revealing their intertwined past lives and hinting at a cycle of reincarnation plagued by Menses's unwitting role in Trappist's deaths across different wars. As Menses faces mortality, Trappist guides him towards an ethereal realm, prompting a poignant reflection on life's mysteries and the inevitability of death. The play delves into themes of war's psychological impact, existential introspection, and the blurred lines between reality and the afterlife, offering a haunting exploration of human mortality and the eternal search for meaning. It also offers several options for its ending and orientation.