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Hunter Gatherers at the Carrie Hamilton Theater
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I'm totally not gay! | Photo courtesy of Furious Theater
Tucked away in a cozy upper floor of the Pasadena Playhouse is the Carrie Hamilton Theater, a dark, unassuming, 99-seater that is regularly packed with patrons eager to see stage performers with a lot of heart. These performers are members of the Furious Theater Company, a successful nonprofit organization that was formed over seven years ago, whose plays have continued to not only entertain, but incite controversial question after controversial question with each passing season.
Their latest thought-provoker is aptly titled, Hunter Gatherers and is written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb and directed by Damaso Rodriguez. At the core of the play lies a scary reality, where the line between civilized human behavior and animal savagery is blurred more frequently than we tend to notice. As the play opens, we follow two couples joining together for a yearly dinner party.
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Lambs for lions | Photo courtesy of Furious Theater
First there is Richard (Doug Newell), an overly aggressive, narcissistic, creative type who is married to the very meek and passive Pam (Sara Hennessy). The two come together like yin and yang on the stage, balancing each other out in very interesting ways. Like Doug and Pam, are Tom and Wendy (Steven Schub and Vonessa Martin, respectively). Tom is a whip-smart doctor who relies heavily on structure and rules, while his wife Pam is one wild woman who gets her kicks out of chastising the timid. When all four of these deliciously complex characters start to call each other out on their perceived weaknesses, chaos ensues and what is supposed to be a joyful gathering turns into a twisted series of events leading to imminent mortal danger for all.
Hunter Gatherers manages to find the right blend of laughs and gasps as it tops one shocking moment with another. Also noteworthy is the set which is designed with an intentional blend of both natural and manmade elements that create a stylish, realistic urban loft. Steven Schub, a relative newcomer to Furious, gives an astonishingly authentic, standout performance as Tom, while Vonessa Martin is delightfully wicked as Wendy and carries much of the comedy.
If you haven't seen Furious Theater in action, now is as good a time as ever! With six seasons and counting under their belts, these ladies and gents clearly know how to put on a consistently good show.
Hunter Gatherers runs from January 24th to February 21st. See it soon...and, as the playbill suggests, come ready to tame your dinner beast!
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