Drama \"Heroes\" by Gerald Sibleyras.

¶ … drama "Heroes" by Gerald Sibleyras. This drama follows the lives of three World War I veterans confined to a retirement home. Set in 1959, the three Frenchmen plan to "break out" of the home and enjoy life, probably for the last time. It is a comedy, but it shows the audience that empty lives bring on fantasy and dreams of escape. The three men, Gustave, Henri, and Philippe, all gather in the garden to conspire and complain about their surroundings. Each man has their own quirk or disability, from Philippe's tendency to nod off at the oddest times, to Henri's fragile grip on reality. All of their disabilities stem from their experiences in the war, which have altered them forever.

Desperate for something to do and to mean something, they plan an escape to a nearby hill (it is the best they can do), but treat it like a full-scale military engagement. One man prepares a logbook, while another gathers blankets, and Henri attempts to cure his fear of leaving the home. Of course, they never leave, it is the planning that gives their lives meaning and hope where there is none. The story is extremely funny, due to the slapstick quality of the comedy, but it is increasingly sad, as well. It is clear these men are not going to leave the home alive. When they leave, they will be dead, and their lives will be over.

While they do not often refer to the war that put them in this predicament, it is quite clear they have all suffered from it. There are physical disabilities, such as Henri's bad leg and Philippe's shrapnel wounds, but the mental wounds are much deeper. Gustave (and the others at times) has difficulty discerning between reality and fantasy, and they all seem to live in the past, remembering better times as a way to escape their unhappy and unfulfilled lives in the Veterans' Home. One of the ways they forget is to fantasize about sex, and remember their sexual encounters.

A play like this could be extremely depressing, but it is rarely sad or maudlin. The men are funny, and their characters are so bizarre that the audience is always waiting to see what they think of next. The comedy is broad and slapstick, which draws the audience in and makes the characters extremely sympathetic. They are not afraid to act outrageously or laugh at themselves, but they want to be taken seriously just the same. Even though the audience does not know much about their backgrounds, they are still extremely likeable, and the audience finds themselves hoping they will make good on their attempt to escape and enjoy just one more adventure in life.