Regional Reviews: San Francisco/North Bay Barbecue Apocalypse Also see Nicole's review of Home
It's a story about moving from 30-something self-involvement (Deb and Mike serve mango margaritas and still have movie posters as decor inside the home) with clothing, careers and culinary skills, to surviving in a post-apocalyptic "hands-on" world of killing and eating raccoons, and other "depraved" acts. Before you let this image put you off, it has to be said that this play is more like a TV sitcom, full of one-liners and snappy dialog. The production is crisply directed by Larry Williams, and elicited howls of laughter at the performance I attended. During act one's patio gathering, the invitees pursue neurosis-heavy squabbling until the obnoxious Win (J.T. Harper) makes a pass at Deb, which results in a violent act. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to partygoers Ash (Trevor Hoffman), a successful yupster, his wife Lulu (Lyndsey Sivalingam), a quick drunk, and Win's gorgeous but shallow girlfriend Glory (Katie Kelley), the world has literally fallen apart. Act two finds the same group on the same deck, meeting to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the apocalypse where mere survival is now successuntil John (Matt T, Witthaus), a mysterious visitor, complicates the party. Barbecue Apocalypse, through April 20, 2019, at Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park CA. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., and Thursdays (April 11 and 18) at 7 p.m.. Tickets: General $26; Seniors (62+) $24; Students $22; children (12 and under) $16. Call the box office at 588-3400, purchase in-person Wednesday through Saturdays, 12-5 p.m. and one hour before every show, or visit SpreckelsOnline.com. |