[NEohioPAL] Berko review: HUNTER GATHERERS @ convergence continuum

[Roy Berko]

‘HUNTER GATHERERS’ absurdity in action at convergence continuum

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)


--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
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--coolcleveland.org

Within the first five minutes of Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s ‘HUNTER GATHERERS,’ now 
on stage at convergence-continuum, you are aware that this is not going to be a 
traditional play.  A live lamb is in a cardboard box.  As you watch, Geoffrey 
Hoffman, portraying the alpha-male Richard, chops the animal into morsel-sized 
pieces ready for cooking.  Sound ghastly?  In the hands of the actors, under the 
direction of Clyde Simon, what is repulsive turns out to be bizarrely humorous.  
That is, if you aren’t a member of PETA or a similar animals rights group.   

‘HUNTER GATHERERS,’ the winner of both the 2007 ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award 
and the Will Glickman Award, is obviously not a play for everyone.  Few scripts 
produced by con con are.  There is a select audience which has tuned into Clyde 
Simon’s weird sense of humor and curiosity, who have become cult followers of 
the theatre.  ‘HUNTER GATHERERS’ will satisfy their tastes (no pun intended).

Pam and Richard are hosting their best friends, Wendy and Tom, for a monthly 
dinner get-together. The animal sacrifice is followed by sex, violence, 
deception, wrestling, more sex, and dancing.  This is an evening where the line 
between civilized and primal man is blurred, and where not everyone will survive 
long enough to enjoy the brownies for dessert.  In fact, the ending makes 
Macbeth seem like a lark.

Nachtrieb has been compared to a modern Edward Albee.  He examines repression 
and hypocrisy by dissecting motives and actions.  For him, as for Albee, no 
taboo is beyond violation.  But, in contrast to Albee, Nachtrieb uses excess 
outrageousness to make his absurdist point.  He uses flipped out characters and 
extreme sexuality to examine the fine line between civilized behavior and 
animalistic actions.

Neanderthal Richard, intent on spreading his “man seed,” self-centered Wendy who 
wants a baby and relishes Richard’s sperm, Wendy’s geeky and suppressed 
homosexual husband Tom, and Richard’s mild-mannered wife, Pam, are the 
participants in this game of desperation.  A game which has dire consequences.

The con con’s production is vivid, but unevenly paced.  The deep intensity 
needed to really give the true absurdist message is on the surface, not in the 
fiber of the acting.  The characters are caricatures, not real people, so 
identifying with them is difficult.

Though Geoffrey Hoffman is on the verge of maniacal, there is too much surface 
emotion, and a lack of alpha male consistency.  Whether this is the fault of the 
script or the actor is debatable.  The same goes for Laurel Johnson.  She needs 
more earthy sensuality.  This is a woman who wants a baby at all costs.  Tom 
Kondilas is on target as the nerdy Tom who finally, in the midst of having sex 
with Pam, seems to accept who he is, but as it turns out, too late.  Laurel 
Johnson’s naivety and sweetness were fine until she needed to do a stronger 
character twist to make the ending truly her personal denouement.  Simon 
arranges for the participants to keep their clothes on, at least most of the 
time.

Jim Valore’s set design works well and Terrii Zernechel’s lighting is extremely 
effective.

Capsule Judgement: ‘HUNTER GATHERERS,’ as with many convergence shows, isn’t for 
everyone.  It is worth the time for those who are interested in contemporary 
theatre, the messages of new authors, and aren’t offended by overt sexuality.

‘HUNTER GATHERERS’ runs at 8 pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through  August 
14 at convergence-continuum’s artistic home, The Liminis, at 2438 Scranton Rd. 
in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. For information and reservations call 
216-687-0074.

Con-con’s next staging will be  ‘SAY YOU LOVE SATAN,’ a “devilish romantic 
comedy” about a gay couple whose life is interrupted by a “handsome stranger 
named Jack.”  The show runs September 3-25.. 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2010, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to 
subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)