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Gorilla Theater's dystopian drama Far Away, co-produced with Revolve Theatre, delves into human nature, paranoia and the predisposition for murder, destruction and conflict – not light fare by any means, but definitely a meatier option on the summer entertainment buffet line – especially if you feel like your brain got flabbier while seeing the Expendables. Recover those precious IQ points with the uncannily relevant allegories in Far Away, a play that reminds us that atrocities are closer than we think but too far to quite understand. Plot-wise, the story involves mass murder, prisoners parading in hats and animals at war. Yes, over-the-top scenarios but executed with understated brilliance. Those familiar with playwright Caryl Churchill and her sex-and-gender tour de farce, Cloud 9, know that she’s capable of macro-waving themes with microscopic subtleties. It’s a combo you’re not gonna get with Stallone and Co. Runs Aug. 12-15; 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N Hubert Ave., Tampa. $15-$25; $10 student rush. 813-879-2914. gorillatheatre.com.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2010.
