Harley Marshall

Billy Goes to War Harley Marshall

Billy Bunders is the luckiest or unluckiest boy who ever lived. From his birth, on the 4th of July 1900, in Kansas--the son of a German immigrant--Billy survives catastrophic event after catastrophic event: The War to End All Wars; World War II; even the presence of The Korean Conflict, horrifies him; as did the Spanish-American War that haunted his father and affected Billy second-hand. With pointed pathos and barbed politicism,"Billy Goes To War" becomes an intensely involving history lesson as seen through Billy's eyes and lived through Billy's actions and with his point of view: "War is ...weird!" Dark humor permeates this unsettling play for these darkening times. A small cast makes this a perfect play for any theatre group. Designed as a minimalist play, little scenery is needed. Simple costumes and props, and the actors' imaginations fill in the graphic visual fabric of the play.