The play, which is set in a British army hospital located in the jungles of Burma during the second world war, focuses on one wing of male patients, all of whom have been injured and are recovering from their wounds. All are from different walks of life, and from different areas of the world, and the five men have formed a lively friendship, as much based on their differences as their similar conditions. Each one is looking forward to the day they are released, to be able to return to family or loved ones they left behind.

Into this comfortable atmosphere comes a young Scottish soldier (Kevin Brady), who the men have been told is dying, but who doesn't know of his own fate. As he proceeds to alienate each man by insulting something about the country of origin, the atmosphere changes to one of at first edginess, then a determined effort is put forth to befriend the young Scot. And through a simple act of kindness, inspired by the ward's nurse, Sister Margaret (Angela DiMarco), he is indeed won over, and the men all become friends. Unfortunately, army regulations force the colonel who had first assigned Lachlen (Philip Giesy and Brady) to disclose information about his true medical condition, and the fact that the young many is dying.

At first angry at what he had thought was pity by the other soldiers in the ward (since they knew of his condition and he did not), he reacts bitterly, but the winning power of forgiveness and a desire for friendship cause him to rethink his actions. A two hankie play that had audience members sniffling and dabbing their eyes at the end, The Hasty Heart is one of the best theatre pieces to be performed on any stage of late. And the marriage proposal ranks right up there with the tour de force proposal (and aftermath) of The Secretary (which I also saw last weekend), though Lachlan is certainly gentler in his persuasion than Lee was in hers. Just know that this play will make you believe in romance again and touch your soul in a way that live theatre seldom does, and you'll never see those young men overseas the same way again.