Theatrius
  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • Search Icon

Theatrius

Theater Reviews—San Francisco and Beyond

“Caveman Play”—Lovable Parable on Prehistoric Planning, at Faultline, S.F.

“Caveman Play”—Lovable Parable on Prehistoric Planning, at Faultline, S.F.

July 15, 2019 bdhorwitz

Savannah Reich Stages Hilarious Debate: Farming vs. Hunting

by Barry David Horwitz

When you enter the great cave at Z Space for Faultline Theater’s “Caveman Play” by Savannah Reich, it’s filled with young folks who know something new and fresh is about to happen. Whether you sit on a stump or bench, you feel we are all in this together.

When charming Dandelion (Amitis Rossoukh) strolls out in her semi-cave, semi-modern gear, she has a new bright idea. She’s determined to make a “presentation.” All ready with a slide show, Dandelion introduces her tall, hesitant partner, loyal Rocky (Conrad Cheeks). Rocky is sensitive and easily manipulated—not quite sure about this project.

Clearly, Rocky dotes on Dandelion: he sidles up to her while she delivers a very high school pitch about the glories of her new discovery: It’s called AGRICULTURE, and promises lots of benefits. And lots of work.

Amitis Rossoukh (Dandelion) & Cole Ferraiuolo (Douglas)

Dandelion gives us the hard sell on AGRICULTURE, and she’s damned convincing, and comically overbearing, too. She polls us in the audience—we are still a bunch of Hunter-Gatherers, you know. We laugh out loud as she expounds the glories of the cave and a new way of life. Dandelion promises us a warm place, reliable food, and the end to our “Existential Dread.” Hunting wild beasts is hard, after all.

This civilized couple have adopted a tiger as their pet—obviously the first domesticated beast. Douglas the Tiger is played with warmth and patience by Cole Ferraiuolo. In his sweet tiger suit, Douglas supplies keyboard. Douglas likes the arrangement, so long as he gets fed, regularly, a practical cat.

Amitis Rossoukh, Conrad Cheeks, Cole Ferraiuolo, and Nic A. Sommerfeld

We’re on track for a wittily manipulated town hall with Dandelion presiding—when in comes Nic A. Sommerfeld as Chicken Feathers. Nic wears furs and feathers that indicate loyalty to the Hunter/Gatherer crowd. Nic makes eyes at handsome Rocky, trying to woo him away from Dandelion and her project. In fact, noisy, intrusive Nic disrupts the whole meeting, and gets into several delightful debates.

Well, it seems like we are at a crossroads in our clueless, self-destructive prehistory. Will we choose to hunt or opt for the cozy cave?  We are all used to going out and chasing beasts, but now there’s a choice to make—the CAVE or the FOREST?

Nic A. Sommerfeld (Chicken Feathers) and Conrad Cheeks (Rocky)

Two brilliantly funny summation speeches outline where the whole disastrous agriculture thing will lead—cell phones, plastic bags, global warming!  Obviously, we get to vote—and the winning side is different each night. Brilliantly directed by Weston Scott, we all join in the fun.

At the core of Savannah Reich’s hilarious and heart-warming show, decisions must be made. Even your own vote will surprise you. How can we enlighten ourselves about the consequences of this seemingly simple decision? Can we use this info to make better decisions? I think SO!

 

“Caveman Play” by Savannah Reich, directed by Weston Scott, by Faultline Theater, at Z Space, San Francisco, through Saturday, July 20, 2019. Info: zspace.org

Cast: Conrad Cheeks, Cole Ferraiuolo, Amitis Rossoukh, and Nic A. Sommerfeld.


Plays
agriculture, Caveman, comedy, Debate, democracy, existential dread, hunting/gathering, tiger, voting

Post navigation

NEXT
“Kill Move Paradise” Exposes Minstrelsy & Murder, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
PREVIOUS
“Cabaret” Soars, Defies, & Challenges, at S.F. Playhouse
Comments are closed.

Menu

  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us

BLM

Black Lives Matter

Subscribe for upcoming reviews!
Loading

Current Shows

  • “Pride and Prejudice, The Musical” Enchants with Sass & Satire—at Ross Valley
  • “Clue” Melds Mystery & Comedy into Entertaining Adventure—at SF Playhouse
  • “Donna”: Intimate Interviews Celebrate Trans Triumphs—On Screen
  • “Fannie”: Sixties Spirituals Pave Path to Freedom—at TheatreWorks
  • “’Tasha” Tackles Raw Racism—at 3Girls
  • “Tea Party” Brews Up a Cup of America—at The Strand
  • “A Raisin in the Sun” Explodes with Drama and Power—at 6th Street
  • “Cambodian Rock Band” Deserves Its Standing Ovation—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Cambodian Rock Band” Mixes Nostalgic Hits with Terror—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Fun Home” Seduces with Strong Songs & Sultry Sass—at Berkeley Playhouse
  • “Anything Goes”: It’s Delightful, It’s Delicious, It’s De-lovely—at 42nd Street Moon
  • “SIX, The Musical” Celebrates Women’s Freedom & Individuality—at BroadwaySF
  • “Fun Home” Bursts with Love & Feeling—at Berkeley Playhouse
  • “Dear San Francisco” Wows with Kaleidoscopic Acrobatics—at Club Fugazi
  • “Justice” Sings the Story of Three Supreme Women—at Marin

About us:

If you want to see the best plays & performances around the San Francisco Bay or beyond, read our reviews. We promise to give you a true report on the best shows.
Bay Area Critics Circle

Barry David Horwitz, Editor of Theatrius, is a Voting Member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle, SFBATCC. Follow us on: facebook.com

© 2023   All Rights Reserved.