DANIEL JOHN KELLEY

Ah friends, my friends, February is over. As I noted in this post, there were two shows that I had nothing to do with that I was excited to see in February. I know the question you’ve been fretting over night and day was whether I did, in fact, see these shows.

Let the truth now be revealed! I did, in fact, see these shows. I also did, in fact, enjoy these shows. I also do, in fact, recommend that you go and see both of these shows.

Universal Robots was an epic sci-fi drama blending the life of Czech writer Karel Capek with his play R.U.R. (where the word “robot” was invented) to create a compelling and exciting alternate history of the 20th century. It’s staged in a tiny space, but makes complete use of it, and features a dynamite cast- especially Jason Howard as the first robot ever, Robot Radius. I enjoyed how the play ended on a hopeful note though, as my girlfriend pointed out, (SPOILER ALERT, kind of) that hopeful note comes AFTER the genocide of the entire human race. Well, you can’t have everything. Or anything. Basically, you can die and then other things that you created and then killed you will learn the hard way that guilt is a terrible thing. That’s hopeful, right?

Soul Samurai was the sword-fighting, insult slinging, hero’s journey extravaganza that I had hoped for. It had everything- sword fighting (did I mention sword fighting?), a love that cannot be, revenge, wise cracking sidekicks, vampires, puppets. I enjoy Vampire Cowboys continued commitment to unpretentious storytelling about flawed people that we grow to care about, and the hilarious people that follow them around. I especially enjoyed the little side-origin story of the big bad guy- how he went from nebbishy office employee to vampire lord. In the end, we all have that darkness inside- no matter how we or society may try to deny it. That’s why people go postal. Or become vampire lords. Or both!