written by Glen Berger
story by Glen Berger and Brett Keyser
September 30, 8pm
October 1 & 2, 8pm
Warner Mainspace, Oberlin College
What if Charles Darwin had fathered a child when his ship, HMS Beagle stopped briefly at Tierra del Fuego? What if this great-great-great-great-love grandchild of the father of Natural Selection were named—not Groucho, Harpo, Curly or Gogo—but Cristóbal? What if this intense, seriously ridiculous savant, illiterate but deeply knowledgeable about the theory of natural selection were on tour bringing his postmodern spin on the origin of species to your hometown?
You’d be looking at a once in a lifetime chance to see Darwinii: The Comeuppance of Man, a swashbuckling, one-man “tour de farce” that deftly skewers everything you think you know about Darwin. It is a unique and imaginative trip ‘round Darwinism, deep time, evolution, and survival of the fittest that’s also serious fun.
"Performed in a bravura 75-minute flood of hilarious intrigue by collaborator Brett Keyser, “Darwinii” is one of the most mesmerizing pieces of theatre this town has seen in a decade." —Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
A product of Philadelphia’s Nightjar Apothecary, Darwinii was conceived by playwright Glen Berger and writer-performer Brett Keyser (appearing in the role of Cristóbal). Darwinii was originally comissioned by the American Philosophical Society Museum where it debuted as part of the 2009 Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival. The production was supported in part by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.
Tickets
This is a free, ticketed event.
In Person
Tickets can be picked up in person at the Central Ticket Service in Hall Auditorium Lobby.
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 12pm to 5pm
By Phone
Contact Central Ticket Service at: (440) 775-8169 or 1-800-371-0178
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 12pm to 5pm
Darwinii: The Comeuppance of Man will be performed at Oberlin College's Warner Main Space Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2 at 8pm.
Seating in Warner Mainspace is limited and there is no late seating.
This production is presented by the Mead-Swing Fund, the Leading Edge Fund for the Humanities, the Assemblies Committee, the Oberlin College Biology Department, and the Oberlin College Theater and Dance Program.
Bios
GLEN BERGER is an award-winning playwright and the co-bookwriter of the Broadway musical Spiderman, Turn Off The Dark (with music by Bono and the Edge). A New Dramatists alumnus, his works include Underneath the Lintel (over 450 performances Off-Broadway, several Best Play awards, over 150 productions nationally, translated into eight languages), O Lovely Glowworm (2005 Portland Drammy Award), and Great Men of Science, Nos. 21 & 22 (1998 Ovation Award), among others. He has received commissions from the Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis, Berkeley Rep, the Alley Theatre and the Lookingglass Theatre. He has won two Emmys (12 nominations), written over 150 episodes for children’s television series, including Arthur, Postcards from Buster, Curious George, and Fetch (head writer for entire five-year run).
BRETT KEYSER Keyser is a writer, director, and performing artist. As an artist-in-residence at the APS Museum (2003-09), he created numerous solo performance works including Darwinii; Tann, Horns & Dead Dogs; You Are Here; Turkish Delightenment; and Horridus! Horridus! Name-calling in the Wilderness. He is an associate artist with the North American Cultural Laboratory (NACL Theatre), collaborating on company productions The Little Farm Show (2010-11), Self-Portrait at County Fair (2009), and The Uncanny Appearance of Sherlock Holmes (2006-08). He was a core collaborator with the Cleveland-based performance groups Wishhounds and Theatre Labyrinth with whom he has performed nationally and internationally (1997-2002). Keyser studied at Odin Theatret in Denmark, Canada’s Primus Theater, and at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts. He has a BA in Folklore and Folklife Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a recipient of a 2010 Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts.
NIGHTJAR APOTHECARY is a producing company specializing in theatrical investigations into the history and philosophy of science that are stimulating, entertaining and always accessible.
Media
Digital Images Available Upon Request
Or download 300dpi images at www.nightjarapothecary.net/darwinii
All other media inquiries can be directed to Ellie Philips at 440.775.8171 or ephilips@oberlin.edu
