[NEohioPAL] Berko review: DARWINII @ Cleveland Public Theatre

[Roy Berko]

DARWINNII, fascinating theatre at CPT

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

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The place is the Storefront Studio at Cleveland Public Theatre.  The visual 
setting is a red carpet, approximately 20 by 3 feet with a trunk at one end and 
a shrine-like stand at the other, with two rows of tightly packed chairs on each 
side of the runway.  The vehicle is Glen Berger's DARWINNI, THE COMUPPANCE OF 
MAN.  The performer is Brett Keyser, who has collaborated frequently with CPT's 
Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan.  Their local presentations include CPT's award 
winning BLUE SKY TRANSMISSION:  A TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD.  

Darwinii is a Latin word referring to English naturalist Charles Darwin, thus 
the title of the play.  Darwinii is also a species of the barberry plant family. 
a native of southern Chile and Argentina, which is the physical setting of the 
play, but other than that has nothing to do with the plot.  Well, maybe not.

The name Glen Berger may sound familiar.  He is the author of several Best Play 
award winning scripts, and is presently in the news as the co-writer, with Julie 
Taymor, of the much hyped SPIDER-MAN:  TURN OFF THE DARK.  Yes, that 
SPIDER-MAN!  The long previewed, but still officially unopened fate-filled 
Broadway production.  But, as problematic as the musical is, DARWINNI is not 
troublesome.  Well, that is unless you like your plays to be unencumbered by 
having to imagine what's going on, to create worlds in your mind, and to force 
you to play with concepts that lead you in one direction, suddenly take you on a 
sidetrack, and then take you down a dead end to another idea.

DARWINNI is fascinating theatre.  Brett Keyser is a fascinating performer.  The 
entire experience is therefore, fascinating.  And, a laugh hoot and educational 
experience, to top it off.

DARWINNI is, according to Bobgan, “a journey of discovery into where we come 
from, with a strong sense that if we can learn this, then we may come to a 
better understanding of ourselves.”  

The journey is lead by a delightful, illiterate con man who takes us on a mind 
glide that includes Charles Darwin's discoveries, the character's questionable 
parenthood, a path of discovery to ascertain whether our guide is really the 
great-great-great-great grandson of the man who gave us the Theory of Evolution, 
what is the real meaning of a scrap of paper hidden beneath the cover of a 
family Bible, and where in hell is Ushuaia.  Actually, I know the answer to that 
one…I've travelled to Patagonia, the tip of Argentina, where the lighthouse at 
the end of the world is located in Ushuaia, but I have no clear idea of any of 
the truth of rest of the goings on.

Though the whole experience sounds abstract, it isn't.  It's great theatre, 
creative literary invention, and a fun experience.

Don't be surprised, since you are basically sitting on stage, if you are asked 
questions, requested to read aloud from secret documents, and politely 
confronted by the maniacal performer.

Capsule judgement: DARWINNI is one of those fascinating pieces of theatricality 
that is a delight to behold.  It's not theatre for everyone, but if you are the 
type of person who likes fringe festival offerings, you'll run to the telephone 
now and make an appointment to be taken on a special journey.

DARWINNI, which is in its Midwest premiere, runs through March 10.  For tickets 
call 216-631-2727 or go on line to www.cptonline.org.

 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2011, 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 www.NeOHIOpal