January 26, 2000
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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
• . ■ .
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. 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