Authentic performances, direction drive 'Primitive': Hale, Johnson splendid in 2-person show
By Ruby Nancy, QUAD-CITY TIMES -- November 27, 2003

Artistic director Chris Jansen, the founding force behind New Ground Theatre, has brought another new show to the Quad-Cities, and “The Primitive” is a sweet, thought-provoking drama too good to miss.

One of two “relationship” plays that I saw last weekend, this one couldn’t be more different from the other, yet the audience’s ease in finding ourselves within the characters is the same. It’s another romance between two very different, constantly changing characters, and is the kind of show that sparks conversation for quite a while afterwards because you can’t stop thinking about it.

Dan Hale is “G,” a male character who is something of a traditionalist, I suppose, and Jamie Em Johnson is “H,” a female character often driven by curiosity and a desire for change. Both do excellent work in this show, offering emotional, realistic performances even in most scenes where the dialogue takes fanciful flight. Hale and Johnson are both the kind of actors whose expressive range extends far beyond the reach of most performers — and their authentic work is perfect for this unusual, yet somehow familiar, play.

Both begin as Neolithic creatures who change as the world does, and they then make their way through the many pitfalls found at “the dawn of Civilization.”

Trust me, even you theatergoers who often prefer the very traditional, familiar sort of script — this play is not as bizarre as it sounds. In fact, its fanciful elements actually highlight the universal elements of the story and provide a bit of humor to offset the gentle, important nature of this simple love story.

Playwright Todd Irvine, who was a grad school chum of Jansen’s, took a new approach to one of the oldest stories in the world with “The Primitive,” and his fresh look is exactly what we need.

Take a date or go with a group of friends, but don’t miss a chance to see New Ground’s “The Primitive.”

Contact the features desk at (563) 383-2400 or newsroom@qctimes.com. 

If you go:
“The Primitive”
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 28-29, and Dec. 4-6; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30 and 
Dec. 6-7
Where: Becherer Hall, Rivermont Academy, 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf
How much: $12 adults, $10 students and senior citizens
Information: (563) 326-7529

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