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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2000)
January 26, 2000 XFLjv ^lorUanh ffîbeeruer --------------------- ' Focus O n S ta g e Page 3 D e fe n d in g th e C a v e m a n An Affectionate Comedy About Men & Women CO N TR IB U TE D S TO RI EOR T he P ortland O bserver In 1997 Caveman played to sold- out houses on Broadway for more than 700 performances, making the lo n g e st-ru n n in g so lo p la y in Broadway history. Caveman has played to sold-out houses in 35 c itie s. In Ja n u a ry , P o rtla n d audiences will finally get a chance to see what the rest o f the country has been raving about. It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine, and this may be the best explanation for Cavem an’s am azin g su c c e ss. B e c k e r’s hilariously insightful play about the ways that the different genders struggle to relate has both sexes ro a rin g w ith la u g h te r and recognition. Lots o f affectionate n u d g in g g o e s on d u rin g th e p erfo rm an ce and co u p le s are commonly seen strolling out into the night afterwards holding hands. Rob Becker also has a loyal following in the therapy community, having been seen and recommended by thousands o f psychologists and counselors. Last year, he was invited to the A A M F T C o n v e n tio n (American Association o f Marriage and Family Therapy) in Toronto where he performed for more than 2,000 therapists. The New York Times has called Cavem an “a nationw ide com ic phenomenon” and now the word seems permanently attached. B e c k e r’s D e fe n d in g T he Caveman originally opened in a dying performance space in San Francisco in June 1991. Within a few w eeks, w ith v irtu a lly no advertising or publicity, Caveman began playing to sell-out crowds, with many patrons already on their third and fourth visits. Following a lengthy sold-out run in San Francisco, Caveman repeated this pattern going on to extended sold-out engagements in Dallas, W ashington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and on Broadway. Performances o f Defending The Caveman will be playing through January 29. For ticket information, call 503/790-ARTS. Portland Opera presents Defending The Caveman, an outrageously funny and surprising sweet exp i o f the gender gap. ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE • . ■ . ,, . r -J aisin in th e Le Cirque-The Masquerade CONTRIBUTED STORY tOK Tut F o RIL.\.'D OBaEK'tR The New Year has come and gone, but the party hasn’t even started yet! Portland Opera will show what “ringing in the New Year” is all about when it hosts the second annual masquerade ball, Le Cirque, on January 28, 2000. Guests for the O pera’s largest fundraising event will enter an enchanted w orld in habited by c o lo rfu l and sp e llb in d in g performers. Inspired by the original French Cirque de Soleil, the evening will include fascinating handmade masks, illusionists, dancers and other imaginative entertainment, and the coronation o f the King & Queen o f The Masquerade. A brief auction will also be held at which guests will vie for a number o f fabulous item s, including a shopping spree at Saks 5th Avenue and an original Bacchus statue made by w o rld -re n o w n e d sc u lp to r Lorenzo Ghiglieri. Tickets for Le Cirque - The Masquerade are $150 per person and ta b le s are a v a ila b le for sponsorship. To purchase tickets call 503/241-1407 or stop by the Portland Opera Box Office. JANUARY 11 - FEBRUARY 20, 2000 1516 SW Alder Street www.artistsrep.org For tickets call: 503/241-1 ART "For me, Raisin is still fresh, it's still relevant. Lorraine Hansberry was a visionary. - Spike Lee, Filmmaker
