THEATER REVIEW
What if tigers suddenly began walking on their hind legs, speaking English and forming a democratic society? Small-minded realists might demand an explanation, but the contrarian Burglars of Hamm blithely take it as a given in “Land of the Tigers” at Sacred Fools Theater.
Subversively inventive and consistently entertaining, the troupe’s latest collaborative creation is two anti-plays in one, each balancing camp and artistry in Matt Almos’ deft staging. The first, a hilariously ridiculous and pretentious allegorical drama built on the aforementioned conceit, presents a skillful parody of theatrical productions that result from the over-earnest pursuit of a conceptual misstep.
In this narrative love child of “Planet of the Apes” and “The Crucible,” Sabertooth (Hugo Armstrong) finds himself torn between duty to his strict tiger society and his forbidden love for Sheba (Devin Sidell). Forced to choose between “a civilized lie and a savage truth,” Sabertooth’s journey encompasses a range of topical platitudes, including heavy-handed warnings about the perils of ignoring climate change and invoking terrorist hysteria.
Sporting “Cats”-like makeup, the performers wittily evoke this alternate universe with single-minded determination. (Tim Sheridan’s dastardly villain and Shelly Kurtz’s bumbling professor are standouts.)
The second act, an equally skillful parody of the creative process, travels back in time to trace the origins of the play we’ve just witnessed. The hilariously ridiculous and pretentious actors who portray the tigers discover their characters -- and some unwelcome truths about themselves -- under the tyranny of an egomaniacal director (pitch-perfect Dean Gregory). As their endless confessional workshop exercises increasingly exasperate the play’s would-be author (Cody Henderson), the Burglars weave unexpectedly poignant insights into the backstage dramas that drive even the most misguided efforts.
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‘Land of the Tigers’
Where: Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Drive, Hollywood
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends May 3
Price: $25
Contact: (310) 281-8337
Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
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