Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: San Francisco/North Bay


#bros
FaultLine Theatre
Review by Richard Connema | Season Schedule

Also see Richard's reviews of The Importance of Being Earnest, Imaginary Comforts and Ain't Misbehavin'


Brennan Pickman-Thoon and Derek Jones
Photo by Clive Walker
FaultLine Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Jake Jeppson's #bros, a dark comedy about male privilege, hate, and the internet. Jake Jeppson has written other funny plays like Turtle and The Clearing that investigate the dark corners of contemporary American life.

The characters in #bros are all called "dudes," with the expectation of a female who is just Girl. The Head Dude (Ryan Hayes) decides to build the website Sensitive-Bros.com with others who include Dude (Brennan Pickman-Thoon), Another Dude (Derek Jones), Some Other Dude (Heren Patel), Dudest of the Dudes (Kevin Glass), and Quiet Dude (Jonathan Villaluz).

The six guys at Sensitive-Bros.com create instantaneous think pieces about manhood in the cyber-world. It is a think tank of frightened men hashtagging their peers to hide behind their masculine self-image with adroit topics based on their #Bro-code. One of the published pieces inspires the Men's Rights Movement. When Dude brings his girlfriend to the boardroom to engage with girl talk, they are forced to do some inward examination.

This is not an easy play because there is so much going on. It is a lecture on male privilege and the internet.

The cast give outstanding performances. Brennan Pickman-Thoon is impressive as Dude, and Megan Wicks as Girl is extraordinary. They have good chemistry together, and the sex scenes are well done. Derek Jones with his powerful voice is terrific as Another Dude. He reminds me of James Earl Jones. Ryan Hayes with his booming voice is excellent as the Head Dude. Heren Patel gives a comic performance as a jiving dude. Jonathan Villaluz as the Quiet Dude is excellent. Rounding out the cast is Kevin Glass in a lively performance as Dudest of the Dudes.

Rose Oser's direction is sharp and incisive and gets the best of out of the terrific cast. Sarah Phykitt's set is clever and includes projections by Maxx Kurzunski that are awesome.

FaultLine's #bros runs through November 18, 2017, at PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street, San Francisco. For tickets and information, visit www.faultlinetheater.com. In April 2018 they will present Tinderella: The Modern Musical.