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The Last Exodus of American Men
By Andrew Burden Swanson
Directed by Kaiser Ahmed & Gus Menary
Produced by Jackalope Theatre Company
At Elsewhere Theater
3036 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-687-9058, www.jackalopetheatre.org
Tickets $15- students $10 (cash only)
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 15 minutes with intermission
Through August 31, 2008
Promising young writer emerges
Three young Columbia College Students, Kaiser Zaki Ahmed, Gus Menary and AJ Ware enrolled in a Management Techniques for Theatre class. They were so impressed that they formed Jackalope Theatre Company and mounted fellow student, 20 year old Andrew Burden Swanson’s first full length play, “The Last Exodus of American Men.” This young, raw and wonderfully optimistic troupe deserves mention for their chutzpah—they started a new theatre company—mounted a new play and opened a new venue. Ah, the brashness of youth!
Their initial production shows their inexperience but it also hints of talent. Generally, Swanson’s play “The Last Exodus of American Men” shows promise. It needs a trimming, some clarity and focus yet it has its moments. Swanson needs to enter Russ Tutterow’s writing program at Chicago Dramatists where he’ll learn editing, rewriting and technique from a host of accomplished playwrights. As it plays now, “The Last Exodus of American Men” deals with four teens in a mental hospital after each has committed unspeakable deeds. Swanson has created four archetypes: the nerdy fat boy, the genius, the quiet little guy and the tall gay boy.
Utilizing surreal absurdist influences, Swanson has the boys desperate to escape the hospital as massive atomic warfare breaks out. The boys flee to the woods on their way to Canada when they meet a mythological bear-man who challenges the boys to face their secret demons as part of a cleansing ritual. The forest will protect them and they’ll feel better if they accept responsibility for their past admitting to the reality of their circumstances. Each boy must tell his secret for the redemption to take place. Bill (Behzad Dabu) and Woodrow (Daniel Martinez) take the risky step but Tucker (Brandon J. Thompson) and Ben (Tyler Gray) resist the spell of the forest. The place nicely offers hope if one is willing to address ones own actions.
Several key speeches—such as the initial speech by the bear-man could be shortened and made clearer. I’d also advise to shorten some of the bonding scenes and several of the inter conflict scenes between the boys. I’d try to cut the many blackouts. A faster pace and shorter speeches would help this show and help build dramatic tension. The writing demonstrates a fresh new voice; the acting is raw but heartfelt. Again, as they grow in their craft, the kids from Jackalope Theatre Company can turn their enthusiasm into art. Their energy contains hope.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2008
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