Hunting Humans

In the tradition of Mamet, comes a frenetic, acerbic, "male bonding" language play that finds four soulless characters in an Atlantic City casino hotel room mourning their deceased colleague Gin Ricky. Lump's (Jerry Kernion) fifteen minutes of fame came at a football game where he danced shirtless to the theme of Hawaii-Five-O. He's a sizable failed actor who isn't opposed to taking his shirt off and letting his flesh roll again to relive it. Fick (Michael Cole Dinelli) is the ominous, reticent gangster, who maintains his power by saying little or nothing. Jay-Mac (Robert Gantzos) is a handsome, smart- dressed addicted gambler who knows his life is a "B" movie, but has no clue how to make it a blockbuster. And then there's Rev (electric Frankie Como) who is the centerpiece (and author's voice) of the shenanigans. A keyed up failed surgeon, in a loveless marriage, who is too aware of failed dreams and the emptiness of life and occasionally hallucinates while on "something."

Plotting and reality take a backseat to absurdity and language. No matter, though, because the language is exciting, the actors gifted, and the direction (Claudia Jaffee) superb. The wonderful ensemble works well together under the brilliant direction of powerhouse talent Jaffee. She's the real star of this show. Her pacing and blocking are priceless and she always gets to the heart of the conflict in Richard Thompson's language- heavy play. She has also cast the play impeccably and understands that the interplay between the four men is crucial to the play's success.

"Hunting Humans" is an absorbing, entertaining black comedy which takes the audience into chaos, amorality and perverse comradeship. A comradeship that isn't above embezzlement, murder and digit severing.