SOFT

by J. Merrill Motz

The dating app said it was looking for "nice guys" and "hopeless romantics" for a new experiment...so here he waits, ready for anything. He is desperate. He is soft. He will bleed.
***CAUTION***
SOFT CONTAINS: Violence, blood & gore, swears galore, misogyny, male fragility, & mansplaining.
In all seriousness, SOFT contains potentially triggering content & unsettling subject matter.
SOFT is definitely not for...

The dating app said it was looking for "nice guys" and "hopeless romantics" for a new experiment...so here he waits, ready for anything. He is desperate. He is soft. He will bleed.
***CAUTION***
SOFT CONTAINS: Violence, blood & gore, swears galore, misogyny, male fragility, & mansplaining.
In all seriousness, SOFT contains potentially triggering content & unsettling subject matter.
SOFT is definitely not for children. But talk to them about it afterwards.
PS - SLYDE is not a real dating app, but it might be based on one.

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SOFT

Recommended by

  • Logan Rodgers: SOFT by J. Merrill Motz
    “

    "...with one act the show... progresses without hiccup or lapse in line of inquiry on its philosophical pondering. Within the act we are taken through the weird non-linear mindset that denotes current Capital driven dating applications which are more isolating than connecting regardless of slogan, the conflict of sexuality in politically correct and misogynistic cultures... curate and exploit, how popular culture influences our identity and what we seek... for connection, and how far we are willing to go when we are promised that our illusive idea of "perfection" can be attained." - 2018 MN...

    "...with one act the show... progresses without hiccup or lapse in line of inquiry on its philosophical pondering. Within the act we are taken through the weird non-linear mindset that denotes current Capital driven dating applications which are more isolating than connecting regardless of slogan, the conflict of sexuality in politically correct and misogynistic cultures... curate and exploit, how popular culture influences our identity and what we seek... for connection, and how far we are willing to go when we are promised that our illusive idea of "perfection" can be attained." - 2018 MN Fringe Review

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    ”
  • Ky Weeks: SOFT by J. Merrill Motz
    “

    A cunning and visceral play that goes into some dark paths with its interesting premise. Motz Shatters judgments on masculinity, social norms, and the place brands have in our lives at the same time as he rips up his protagonist in entertainingly gory fashion.

    A cunning and visceral play that goes into some dark paths with its interesting premise. Motz Shatters judgments on masculinity, social norms, and the place brands have in our lives at the same time as he rips up his protagonist in entertainingly gory fashion.

    ”
  • Monica Cross: SOFT by J. Merrill Motz
    “

    I have the wonderful opportunity to see SOFT at the Minnesota Fringe in 2018 and this unsettling play has stuck with me ever since! Chewy is a fantastic part for a strong actor to sink his teeth into (I guess, kinda literally at times). Social commentary mixes with horror and sci-fi elements to masterful effect in J. Merrill Motz's writing.

    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

    I have the wonderful opportunity to see SOFT at the Minnesota Fringe in 2018 and this unsettling play has stuck with me ever since! Chewy is a fantastic part for a strong actor to sink his teeth into (I guess, kinda literally at times). Social commentary mixes with horror and sci-fi elements to masterful effect in J. Merrill Motz's writing.

    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

    ”

Character Information

1 M, White
1 F, Race neutral

The role of THE VOICE is meant to be played by a rotating cast of actors for each performance, race unimportant, with the actor reading from the script at a podium.
  • Chester "Chewy" Weiss
    Large & given up trying to get any less so. He is soft.
    30s
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • The Voice ("Heidi")
    The female voice of the experiment. Reading lines onstage but not actually onstage. Very clearly a program and not at all an actual human being pretending to be a program. 
    20s-30s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Production History

  • Fringe, Minnesota Fringe, 2018