 Of
Mice and Men
Never
has the differences between men and women been this funny, or true.
Defending the Caveman debuted in San Francisco in 1991 and has never
looked back. It has played to over 30 countries and over 21 cities
in the U.S. alone. The production also holds the record as the longest-running
solo show in Broadway history. The Las Vegas production is celebrating
several milestones in June – the show’s one-year anniversary;
the title for the longest-running one-man play in Vegas history,
plus the added honor of being the longest-running show in Golden
Nugget history – so audiences can definitely expect special
offers, in the coming month.
The
local show stars Kevin Burke, who is so likeable, that he is more
like Kevin James than Al Bundy. Hailing from a long line of entertainers,
Burke wanted to live and perform in Las Vegas since the age of 12,
and in June of last year, he got his wish. The journey was not all
smooth-sailing. Defending the Caveman creator, Rob Becker, auditioned
more than 80 actors and comedians before choosing Burke as his replacement
for the national Broadway tour, which he has been starring in since
2003.
If
you’re a fan of ‘battle of the sexes-type’ sitcoms,
then this is the show for you. It encapsulates, in 75 minutes, all
the funnier points of the differences between men and women. From
why men are “hunters” and women are “gatherers,”
to why men are so irrationally (sorry, I’m female) attached
to their TVs and women like to shop and gossip.
 The
premise is certainly not new. This has long been a topic of stand-up
comedians on the Strip, as well as the numerous sitcoms that dot
the TV landscape, and we’re sure you’ve heard it all
before, in one form or another, so what is the secret to this show’s
staying power?
Perhaps
it’s the fact that the zingers come one after the other, without
having to build-up within 30 minutes. And unlike most routines from
stand-up comics, the jokes aren’t particularly offensive,
nor are they political in nature, they simply lightly poke fun at
this age-old dilemma. Producer John Bentham adds, “When we
started, we heard some objections that people who come to Vegas
just want mindless entertainment, and we’re happy that this
is not the case; that there are people who want to go to a show
that offers them a little more, and some room to think.”
This
certainly was not an overnight effort. Comedian Rob Becker wrote
the one-man show during a three-year period where he made an informal
study of anthropology, prehistory, psychology, sociology and mythology.
 Perhaps
another factor is that the show’s theme is universal and is
easily translatable and relatable, no matter where you’re
from or what language you speak. The proof? Not only has Defending
the Cavema played to millions of audiences around the globe, it
has also been translated into 17 languages. In Germany, for example,
it is so popular that there are currently 15 actors performing “on
tour.”
In
the Vegas landscape, this is the “little show” that
has proven everyone wrong. In a town that charges big bucks for
big-time entertainment, flashy production numbers and Hollywood
acts, the show has held its own against, and maybe even surpassed,
some of the bigger names, Strip-side. There are no special effects,
just one man on one stage, aided only by a handful of props.
Our
advice – go and see Defending the Caveman. It would be time
and money well spent, and while you may not come out of it a wiser
man or woman, you’ll definitely come out laughing.
-Rachel
M. Sugay
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