Eleven-year-old Henry comes from a good home. His parents are academic, highly educated, intelligent, progressive people, and there shouldn’t be any cause for concern. But Henry shocks his teachers by making a violent video for school. About the same time, his friend Maria disappears. The incidents eat away at the civilized outer shell of both parents and teachers, causing it to crumble. Violent, sexual, and distressing thoughts and images erupt to the surface with increasing force. Henry is supposed to create a work on compassion as a counterbalance, but does such a thing genuinely exist anymore?
Veikko Nuutinen’s play demonstrates with frightening precision how, even during an era of prosperity and permissiveness, the dark side of humanity remains alive and well. An agonizingly suspenseful and grimly funny work, Compassion offers no answers or easy solutions, but poses its questions incisively and poignantly.
Roles: 3 F, 2 M, smaller roles.
