By Richard Pacheco
Trinity Repertory’s current
production of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s “Social Creatures” is uproarious fun
while it tackles a host of social issues from capitalism, to racism to a
changing social world order. It oozes dark humor from every minute, sheer
delight while it sometimes startles and shocks. Propelled by a terrific cast
and wonderful direction it always involves, always delights from first minute
to last. It is both intellectual and visceral simply satisfying.
In it, zombies slash vampires roam
the streets of Providence while the
few remaining survivors huddle inside Trinity Rep for safety. While hell brakes
loose outside, the motley collection of survivors struggle to set up a new
order in the face of total chaos and a disease that spreads on contact converting
humans into sub human creatures who eat human flesh.
The play opens with a hilarious
scene as husband and wife Mr. and Mr. Jones try to get the generator working.
As the play moves on the other characters in this conclave of survivors appear.
Mrs. Smith is distraught over his missing husband and more than a little bit
unbalanced. Mr. Wilson is patient, kind and understanding, almost to a fault.
Mr. Williams is very possessive of food, particularly what she considers hers.
Mr. Johnson has a world weary practicality about him as he faces each new
situation and an unmistakable individuality. Mr. Smith is the upper middle
class husband MIA, now a wandering zombie. Mr. Brown, is an African American who
wanders into the survivors nest and meets with a less than friendly reception.
Alexander Platt is Mr. Jones, a man
working on his fourth wife, after losing his soul mate, wife number two. Mr.
Platt is delightful as the often cringing, very subservient to his wife
husband, struggling to make the most of a bad situation and his wife’s every
increasing lust for power and control.
D’Arcy Dersham is wonderful as the
frightened, power and control grabbing Mrs. Jones. She grows increasingly
uptight and demanding of control the more she feels things are getting out of
hand. It is not that she wants to be in charge, she feels someone must do what
she is doing and that she is best suited for the task. Ms. Dersham handles the
transitions in character from fear to dictatorial power thirst with skill and
convincing grace.
Rebecca Gimel is Mrs. Smith, who
unstable at best grows increasingly more and more peculiar as time goes by as
she continually grows high and her little girl antics grow more disturbing with
her feigned innocence. Ms. Gimel delivers a deliciously disturbed performance
as she slips further and further into her drugged world and away from her
surroundings.
Janice Duclos is Mrs. Wilson, a
kind compassionate woman at a loss in the world she finds herself in which is
too harsh and too unfair for her tastes and character. Ms. Duclos makes the
character very appealing and personable a truly likeable person who struggles
with the overbearing injustice she finds around herself. It is a captivating
performance.
Nance Williamson is her roommate,
Mrs. Williams. Mrs. Williams is brash, outspoken and feisty. She has little
tolerance for being bullied about and
believes what is hers is hers, not party of any communal coffer. Ms. Williamson
is wonderful in the role totally convincing and honest in her portrayal.
Charlie Thurston is Mr. Smith, a
one time upper middle class doting husband, but now a wandering zombie. He
appears in Mr. Smith’s hallucinations, having escaped the sanctuary where they
all cluster and ventured into the vile and polluted world outside. Mr. Thurston
is solid and persuasive in the role.
Timothy Crowe is the practical and
very ornery and crotchety Mr. Johnson. He lived with his 95 year old mother
before all hell broke loose and is proud of being a Rotarian. Mr. Crowe is
flawless as the cranky, down to earth man.
Darien Battle is Mr. Brown, a
thirty’s working class guy who thinks he gets along with everyone until he
blunders into this little conclave. Mr. Battle is endearing and outstanding as
the African American who finds himself subject to immediate prejudice and
persecution from the moment of his arrival.
All the actors get a wonderful
monologue wherein they go into some of their past and give an insight into who
they are now. These are universally winning and excellent.
Director Curt Columbus keeps
everything moving merrily along with a keen eye to the dark humor which abounds
throughout this terrific play. He evokes the best out of his actors, making it
all highly memorable.
Eugene Lee’s set design is
wonderful, ably capturing a dreary, dank back area with an isolation booth
stuck in the middle. Olivera Gajic’s
costume designs are right on the mark. The Josh Epstein lighting makes
it all eerie and ominous right from the first. The sound and video design by
Peter Sasha Hurowitz add an extra effective element to the tale.
“Social Creatures” is an offbeat
apocalyptic comedy about how we deal with extreme crises and what comes out of
our personalities. For some it is a grasping control to try and control a
situation out of control and deadly. For
others it is a willingness to go along to keep the peaces. Some drift into
madness and irrationality. Others remain eminently practical. Still other hoard
food or offer understanding and kindness in the face of ever increasing
darkness and danger. And a hapless one blunders into prejudice and
discrimination in dire times through no fault of his own. All the whiles this
unfolds the humor is raucous, rich and dark, a real treat. “Social Creatures”
is a fantastic play brought vividly to life by a strong and vibrant cast. It
has the kind of humor you find in films like “Sean of the Dead” or “Zombieland”
with a closer look at social mores under stress.
The strong and unusual play, a
superb cast, and excellent production values make this a must see. There is one
caveat, there is some gore in the second act during a zombie attack.
It will be presented at Trinity Rep
from March 14 until April 21. Call 401-351-4243 seven
days a week. Walk up sales are
available at the 201
Washington St.
box office Tuesday-Sunday 12-8pm. $36-$70. For information on group discounts for parties of 20 or
more contact Group Sales at 401-351-4242 or online at online at: http://www.trinityrep.com
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