The Hourglass at The Rat NYC

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2. The Hourglass

"The Hourglass" is a play inspired by the true story of Hiroo Onoda. Playwright Drew Pierson learned of Onoda's tale from his mother, Theresa, who grew up in the South Pacific and was familiar with similar WWII holdouts.

The play follows Junie, a college dropout, who risks his life searching for Lieutenant Takeda, a Japanese soldier stranded on an island decades after the war ended. Despite the passage of time, Takeda believes the war is still ongoing.

After finding Takeda, Junie struggles to persuade him to surrender and leave the island. Takeda agrees only if his Commanding Officer, from three decades earlier, personally relieves him of his duty.

Junie sets out to locate Commander Moon, armed only with a name and the hope he's still alive. Moon, now a proud but defeated veteran, is initially reluctant to even speak about his former subordinate. However, Junie reminds him of a forgotten fact: it was Moon who gave Takeda the order to remain on the island.

A touching exchange highlights the lingering trauma of war veterans and the enduring power of camaraderie. Together, Junie and Moon venture through the jungle to return to Takeda. Despite the stark reality check, Takeda is hesitant to leave. Moon must now convince him to return home. Their reunion is a poignant testament to the unbreakable bond forged in war.