Defending the Caveman » Fun Way to Understand D.ckheads’ Sensitivities and Nagging Women

Millions of books, articles shows and movies were already published and produced dealing with the differences between men and women, so it is definitely a fact we all know.

Actually, it is already a boring subject.

However, I’m able to watch Rob Becker’s one-man show “Defending the Caveman” starring Joel Trinidad last Friday at the RCBC Plaza with my office-mates. I never thought gender differences could be that fun. I got a nice dose of Friday night “sosyal” entertainment.

The Cavemen... Yodz, Aldan and Stup

Defending the Caveman revolves around the premise that the real reasons for the gender differences could possibly evolved within the human evolution during the Barok and Gundina, Tarzan and Jane era, the time when men and women had their specific roles as the hunters and gatherers, respectively, and that people nowadays are just the modern-day versions.

Photo op after the show

It’s a good laugh, but it is not only hilarious, it also gives insightful truths about all the ways men and women fight, laugh, and love, therefore it’s best if you watch it together with your hubby or friends.

So to all the dickheads and nagger-shopaholics out there, you definitely don’t want to miss this.

The stage set

Rob Becker’s “Defending the Caveman”

Broadway’s smash comedy about the sexes, which sold 8 million tickets worldwide in 30 different languages starring Joel Trinidad.

Directed by Michael Williams and Cathy Azanza-Dy.

May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2011 at 8pm

Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4th Floor, RCBC Plaza Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

Synopsis

Defending the Caveman, the longest running solo play in Broadway history is now a worldwide phenomenon that’s won the hearts of the millions in over 30 countires in more than 16 different languages. The “outrageously funny and surprisingly sweet exploration of the gender gap” (Chicago Sun-Times) has made defending the caveman “a comic phenomenon” (New York Times).

Caveman is a hilariously insightful play about the ways men and women relate. It has both sexes roaring with laughter and recognition. In the audience lots of affectionate nudging goes on during the performance. Couples are commonly seen strolling out in the night holding hands.

Scenes from the monologue

Caveman also has loyal following in the therapy community. It’s been seen and recommended by thousands of psychologists and counselors.

With hilarious insights on the contemporary feminism, masculine sensitivity and erogenous zone, Caveman has found a way to mine the common themes of relationships that goes straight to the funny bone.

The Cave Paintings

Interesting cave painting used as inspiration for the stage backdrop

In 1940, Lascaux, Fance, four teenage boys stumbled upon a cave containing the most impressive of all prehistoric art ever found. The painting of the man and the bison was discovered deep inside the cave. It dates from 17,000 years ago.

Carving also used as stage backdrop

The Great Goddess of Lausel was a carving discovered in 1911 not far from Lascaux. She dates from 25, 000 years ago. Scholars have suggested her image may have been used to celebrate the mysterious and magical female ability to renew and fully participate in the cycle of life.

About the Author

Rob Becker was a student at San Jose’s Pioneer High School in the early 1970 when he found out that he had the ability to make people laugh.

It would be years later before Rob Becker followed the path that lead to a successful comedic career. Becker’s comedy turned to the relationships between men and women, and “people started laughing really hard,” he said. “I just tried to explain things from guy’s point of view, what a guy would be thinking.” The routine evolved into “Defending the Cavemen”, the longest running solo play in Broadway history.

There are some comedians known for their side-splitting humor, but with Rob Becker it’s more like side-bruising humor. A man attends with his wife, and she elbows him in the ribs as she laughs hysterically every time Becker’s line describes her husband which is about everyone. The side-bruising humor was the result of Becker’s three years of informal research of Anthropology, prehistory, psychology, sociology and mythology.

It was that humor that he took to the stage, and the humor resonated for men and women alike. So popular was his show that he played every major city in the United States. Becker has formally retired from performing the Defending the Caveman routine and has since licensed it to allow others to now perform the routine all over the world.

Joel Trinidad as the Caveman

Fresh from the original musical Breakups and Breakdowns, a show he performed in, produced, directed, and wrote (with composer Roy Fortich), Joel Trinidad can currently be seen playing the role of the villainous Advisor in the Vegas-meets-Broadway musical Kaos (whose script he also wrote). 

This 22-year theater veteran has also played lead roles in such highly acclaimed productions as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Portrait of the Artists as a Filipino, Hamlet, Proof (opposite Leah Salonga), Amadeus, and The Rocky Horror Show, among countless others. He is a founding member of SPIT, or Silly People’s Improv Theater, the First Asian comedy troupe ever to perform at the prestigious Loa Angeles Improv Festival, and whose impromptu, seat-of-the-pants comedy has wowed audineces in Bali, Las Vegas, San Diego and New York. 

He’s done quite a bit of onscreen work, too, having appeared in numerous local and foreign movies, TV commercials, and one phone-Filipino game show broadcast live from Budapest. (Long story.) He received his first Aliw Award nomination for his role in the original Filipino musical Something To Crow About (which eventually enjoyed a succesful run in New York and California) and his second for his multiple roles in the hugely successful Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q (which went on to play a sold-out run in Singapore). Considering his first nomination was way back in 1993 (an Awit Award for Best Dance Song), Joel thinks that it might be nice to actually win one of these damn awards already. 

He and his wife Emercita Alcid-Trinidad have recently founded Upstart Productions, and Joel wrote and directed that company’s first official show: the short play Crush Hour, which premiered at the Time Square Atrs Center in New York City in October 2010. He is slated to direct at least two more Upstart shows for 2011: a contemporary version of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and an original children’s musical, Fairy Tale Rescue, written by Joel with composer Only Torres. 

Though his work as a director, writer, voice talent, lyricist, commercial model, acting coach, event host, English teacher, and actor keeps Joel busy, this brilliant, daring, and stunningly original artist always makes time to write his own bios.

The Directors

Michael Wiliams

Michael has been in the Philippine theater industry for more than 20 years. He was a part of the original cast of Miss Saigon in the West End. He also went on to play Lun Tha (the romantic lead) in the touring and West End productions of The King and I. Since coming back from London in 1992, he has established himself in the lounge and trade show circuits but continued to churn out stellar work in the theater as an actor and as director in musicals, dramas, and comedies. He was acclaimed for his portrayal of Javert in Les Miserables: the lead role Tartuffe; and AAI’s Taking Sides. He directed Repertory Philippines production of Sweeney Todd. His latest appearance on stage was in Alfred Hitchcock’s 39 Steps produced by Repertory Philippines production of Peter Pan. He is also the founder and Artistic Director for Theater Down South, which is based in the southern metro. He conducts acting workshops year-round for several schools.

Cathy Azanza-Dy

Cathy is a familiar face to many who follow Philippine theater. Joining Repertory Philippines as a teenager where she featured in Annie, Oliver, Man of La Mancha and more than a dozen other productions. Cathy has proceeded to take on lead roles in Trumpets'’The Little Mermaid, Actor’s Actor’s Once On This Island, and Atlantis’ The Rocky Horror Show and Urinetown.

Following her turn in Repertory Philippines’ smash hit I Love You. Your’re Perfect, Now Change, Cathy went on to play Sister James in Atlantis’ critically-acclaimed stage productions of Doubt. She was also part of The Romance of Magno Rubio, produced by the New York based Ma-Yi Theater Company. Cathy was last seen as Rona Lisa Peretti in the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which played to audiences in Manila and Singapore.

Most recently, Cathy wrote the screenplay for the film “Creative License”’ which won the 24-Hour Brooklyn Filmracing Competition, and went on to receive First Place in the US National 24-Hour Filmracing Tour, besting films from cities all over the United States and Canada.

Defending the Caveman is Cathy’s first foray into directing for the stage.

For special private bookings of “Defending the Caveman” for your companies, organizations, or schools,

Please email cteshows@gmail.com

Join Defending The Caveman Philippines and “CTE Productions” on Facebook

For the Theater ethusiasts:
CTE Productions also presents the Asian premiere of the Broadway Hit
LOVE, LOSS and WHAT I WORE, an intimate collection of true stories about life and fashion. Coming this July 2011

_________________

Sources of Facts and Citation:

» About Rob Becker, http://www.youthclassic.org/feature_articles/robbecker07.html

» Synopsis, Directors' and Joel Trinidad Profiles. Lifted from Souvenir Pamphlet

» Photo Credit: Joel Trinidad and Directors' Photos Lifted from Souvenir Pamphlet 

» Cave Paintings. from Google Images 

Disclaimer: Information such as schedule of play, venue, author and directors’ bio are correct at the date of posting. I work hard to try to ensure my articles remain up to date. Unfortunately events are always in transition and changes happen without prior notice. With the sheer number of articles on this blog it will not always be possible for me to update everything instantly unless I am made aware of an inaccuracy directly. I therefore cannot accept liability for any out of date or inaccurate information that may change or prove inaccurate after the initial creation date of the article. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Never Wish for A Longer Dick

I don't know why the "male small dick panic" is still an issue nowadays -- Maybe the advent of sexual consumerist culture is to blame. It is a universal assumption, and I say just an assumption, that men know more or less where they stand relative to their peers when it comes to dick size.

Quick Facts (and of course you already know about this):

Average penis size when flaccid – 4 inches
Average penis size when erect – 5.7 inches

It’s a bit bigger than a gorrilla’s 3-inch erection, but then there’s blue whale, the world’s largest mammal that has, a goddamn ten-foot erection.
Some men worry that dick size matters to women and most women vigorously denied that it doesn’t (but I guess some of them secretly wish it’s bigger) – but as they always say “It’s the performance not the size,” so to improve performance we need more practice -- practice makes perfect right? LOL 

And of course communication is very important -- because men are from Mars and women are from Venus communicating man’s wishes to a woman is sometimes confusing. Look at this:

So, if you’re talking to women, especially about your sexual fantasies, BE VERY SPECIFIC. 

And of course as Lao Tzu said, “Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

 

Please share your  thoughts on the comments section.
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Cartoon Source: The Good Fairy 

Contact Yodz for proper cartoon author citation.

Orgasm

I am currently reading the book “No Ordinary Moments” by Dan Millman and came across one section which I think worth sharing. It is a section about the primary gateways of stress release, which includes orgasm.   

Orgasm serves as a universal and relatively benign method of tension release, through masturbation, sex with a partner or spontaneously, as in nocturnal emissions (“wet dreams”). As an inherent biological drive to help ensure continuation of the species, orgasm can be distinguished from higher motives of love, affection or intimacy – we can, and often do, achieve orgasm without any of these higher motives. Mutually consenting adults can and do engage in uncommitted “sports sex” – having orgasms, then going their separate ways. However, the highest form of sexual intimacy includes both love and desire.

As with the other gateways, sexuality only becomes problematic when it becomes compulsive or addictive – when we abuse it rather than use it. Those who become addicted to orgasm pursue a variety of means to achieve it and tend to use partners or themselves as sex objects in order to release tension.

In today’s world, indiscriminate, promiscuous, unprotected sexual relations have become a high-risk behavior with serious even fatal consequences – not to mention the emotional turmoil related to the regret, deceit, and insecurity that sometimes accompany affairs.

For those without a partner, masturbation is recommended as a means of managing our sexual-creative energies. A near universal practice, masturbation provides an accessible gateway of release with no emotional strings attached. Masturbation seems preferable to deceitful, loveless, and compulsive sexual encounters that risk disease, pregnancy, or one-sided emotional entanglements. Masturbation also helps resolve, in a simple and harmless way, different levels of sexual desire in a relationship; if our partner is not interested or available when we desire orgasm, we can masturbate to relieve the sexual tension.

By definition, however, masturbation does not involve relationship with anyone else; it involves no circuit of energy exchange, vulnerability or intimacy. Those who are addicted to this particular gateway even though a partner is available may want to re-examine the level of openness and communication in their relationship, and to explore deeper levels of sexual intimacy.

The fewer internal obstructions we have, the less compelling our need for orgasm. With less need, we have more to give, which enhances the intimacy of our sexual relationship. Reduced pressure for orgasm is quite different, however, from inhibited drives, sexual blocks or repression, or guilt driven attempts at celibacy, which may signal a need to seek professional help.

Source: Millman, Dan. 1992. No Ordinary Moments: A Peaceful Warrior’s Guide to Daily Life. California, USA:H. J. Kramer Inc. p. 68-69 

Ten Stupid Things Men Do To Mess Up Their Lives

While reading the book "10 Stupid Things Men Do To Mess Up Their Lives" by Dr. Laura Schlessinger, I received these cute pictures via forwarded e-mail entitled "Why Men Need Parents"

I was about to write a short book note for posting here and thought that these pictures are worth sharing together with the short summary of the book.

Would you agree with these?

1. STUPID CHIVALRY.

    By getting involved with the wrong woman (weak, flaky, damaged, needy, desperate, stupid, untrustworthy, immature, etc.) you think that your love will save/transform her.

 2. STUPID INDEPENDENCE 

     Unwilling to admit “need” for bonding and intimacy, you hide in excesses of work, play, drink, drugs, porn, and meaningless sex. 

3. STUPID AMBITION 

    Unable to comfortably and proudly accept your inherent importance to society and family as husband and father, you bow to the false idols of money, toys, power and status.

4. STUPID STRENGTH  

   Uncomfortable with feeling weak, vulnerable, useless, powerless, or rejected,you use intimidation, force, or passive-aggressiveness to regain control.

 5. STUPID SEX 

     Taking an attraction, opportunity, or erection as a “sign,” you measure your masculinity and power by sexual conquests, infidelities, and orgasms. 

 

 6. STUPID MATRIMONY 

      Lacking a mature sense of the purpose, meaning, or value of marriage, you realize too late you’ve gone down the aisle with the wrong woman for the wrong reasons and feel helpless to “fix it."

 

 7. STUPID HUSBANDING 

     Thinking that marriage is the honorable discharge from loving courtship, you continue to live as thought you were single and your “mommy-wife” will take care of everything else.

 

 8. STUPID PARENTING 

     Believing that only women/mothers nurture children, you withdraw from hands-on parenting to assert your masculine importance, missing out on the true “soul food” of a child’s hug. 

9. STUPID BOYISHNESS 

    Having not yet worked out a comfortable emotional and social understanding with your mother, you form relationships with women that become geared to avenge, resolve, or protect you from your ties to Mommy. 

 

  10. STUPID MACHISMO 

         Understanding the true and meaningful difference between being male and a man, you can become a man.

_______________________________ 

Summarized & Compiled by Yodz Insigne

Source: Schlessinger, Laura, "10 Stupid Things Men Do To Mess Up Their Lives" New York:Harper Collins, 2002.

Image Source:  via forwarded e-mail (if you own the above pictures Contact Yodz for image deletion request or proper source citation)