Photo Coverage: DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN Manila Meets Press and Friends

There is no stopping "caveman" Joel Trinidad ("Avenue Q", "Spelling Bee") from hunting for more men and women audiences as Rob Becker's smash solo comedy "Defending the Caveman" moves from the Insular Life Theatre in Alabang, South of Manila to the Carlos P. Romulo RCBC Theatre in Makati City on May 14 to 16, 2010.

In preparation for the caveman's new quest, CTE Productions has recently invited friends from the theatre and members of the press, including BroadwayWorld Philipines, to a special rehearsal cum preview of "Defending the Caveman," sans lighting, a few visual projections, and the revised script used in the Off-Broadway incarnation held at the Downstairs Theatre at Sofia's, February to April 2010. 

"Defending the Caveman" is more or less  90-minutes of monologues tackling the caveman's grand  theories of prehistoric differences between the men (here referred to as the "hunters" since ancient times) and the women (here referred to as the "gatherers" since ancient times) . 

Even though some of the examples cited by the caveman are "too Westernized" or partly not applicable to the "metrosexual" man,  the stand-up comedy has brought to the fore very insightful concepts,  and hilarious men versus women situations.  When taken seriously, "Defending the Caveman 101" can actually help  infuse harmonious vibes within any heterosexual boyfriend/girlfriend or marital relationship.

Becker initially wrote the manuscript for "Defending the Caveman" in a span of three years in the early 1990s. It is based on the actor's informal collective study of anthropology, prehistory, psychology, sociology and mythology. 

The show first played in San Francisco in 1991 and soon moved to Dallas, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Chicago. 

"Defending the Caveman" opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre On Broadway in 1995.  It ran for 702 performances, making "Caveman" the longest-running solo play in Broadway history.

Becker's newly updated script for "Defending the Caveman" will be used in the Manila performances running next month.   

The Manila show is directed by the man-woman tandem of Michael Williams ("Sweeney Todd") and Cathy Azanza-Dy. 

"Defending the Caveman" is produced in Manila by CTE Productions (Manila) and Theatre Mogul, the rights holders of the play with offices in Iceland and the US.

Tickets are sold at PhP 1,000 for orchestra center, PhP 500 for orchestra side and loge, and PhP 300 for balcony at www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Preview Photos by Ulysses Manuel