|
Defending The Caveman
By Rob Becker
Starring Chris Sullivan
At the Lakeshore Theater
3175 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
Call 773-521-2283, tickets $39.50 - $45
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 5 & 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running Time is 1 hr, 45 min with no Intermission
Open run
Caveman still popular middle class fare
I’m wrong on this show just like I was wrong about Mamma Mia, Rent and Blue Man Group. Defending the Caveman is extremely popular with the masses and delivers enough laughs as it especially appeals to women. That’s a fine formula for a theatrical event. I believe most of my readers will enjoy Defending the Caveman so I’ll not stand in your way and burden you with my snobbery and artsy taste. I believe it is a reviewer’s task to report his personal biases so that you’ll be able to take that into account while reading a review. 
The reaction to Chris Sullivan, the likable macho guy delivering Rob Becker’s honest pop culturally updated show (Caveman has run since 1994 setting records for a one-man comedy show), by members of the opening night audience was vocal and admiring. Women laughed much more than the men.
I didn’t laugh at all. So what, you probably will. Caveman reminded me of a Jerry Seinfeld episode and or a Friends TV show—and—I hate those shows making me vastly different (maybe my 60 years of age is showing?). So please give me a break on this show. If you like clever stand-up and sketch comedy, you’ll like Caveman. If you like raw sexual true-to-life anecdotes, you’ll like Caveman.
Chris Sullivan delivers Becker’s material deftly, has a nice sense of timing and knows how to engage the audience seamlessly while smoothly keeping them captivated.. Essentially, Defending the Caveman looks at what it means to be a man in normal middle class American society. Becker portrays men as “assholes,” or he believes women depict us in that light. He explains in vivid detail how men are hunters and focus on a single idea or task at a time. Women, conversely, are gathers who relish conversation, multitasking and togetherness. This oversimplified anthropology is so cliché ridden as it depicts men as ignorant, selfish and narcissistic. It may not be too scientific but it does present rich fodder for adroit comedy. Since I never have been married nor lived with a female for an extended period of time, Caveman didn’t speak to me; therefore I found the show to be trite and stereotypically mundane. I have always been an eclectic who lives a bohemian life style so Caveman doesn’t relate to me.
 |
I think it is valid to say, in effect, Caveman is somewhat of a “male bashing” piece distinctly advocating a pro-female bias but, again, that is my personal view. Obviously, the audience thought otherwise. I also think that gay men would find this show indirectly homophobic as it garners laughs when Sullivan suggests that men don’t do ‘effeminate’ gestures and openly express their feelings. That point of view dates the show somewhat. Its appeal is to middle class women in their late 30’s to 50’s and to those who love Blue Man Group and the Cubs. Remote-clicking couch potatoes will also find Becker’s material hilarious.
I believe snobbish, artsy theatre patrons like me will think the show is simplistic, dated and unfunny. Well, then again, after the show I was standing on the corner of Belmont & Broadway and a group of older, sophisticated actors/theatre professionals greeted me adorned with big smiles asking: “Wasn’t Caveman a hoot!” So much for my artsy theory --- I give up! Go see this show, you’ll enjoy it.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Date Reviewed February 9, 2005
|
