Review: They May Be 'The Squirrels,' But They Are All Too Human

"The Squirrels" is a comedy-drama about a family of squirrels living in an unnamed forest. The characters in Burbage Theatre Company's production may be sporting tails but their personalities are only too human.

Robert Askins' clever script serves as an allegory about the dangers of racism and greed.

"The Squirrels" begins with a tutorial about the dietary habits of squirrels, their mating rituals, and the sounds they make. It's an amusing introduction and sets the tone perfectly for what follows.

Vince Petronio's Sciurus is the Grey Squirrel patriarch, the alpha male who everyone looks up to. For years he has ruled over his kingdom and is committed to preserving the status quo.

Carolinesis (Omar Laguerre-Lewis), a fox squirrel, lambasts Sciurus for hoarding his nuts while other squirrels are starving.

The conflict between the fox squirrels and the grey squirrels escalates after Sciurus is manipulated by the greedy Sciuridae (Joe Henderson), a thoroughly despicable con man who stirs up trouble for everyone.

Sciurus pushes his daughter Chordata (Jessie March) away when he learns she is "mucking" with Carolinesis.

Under the top notch direction of Mark Peckham, the cast creates an ensemble of richly-textured dynamic personalities.

Petronio ("Our Town") is compelling as a squirrel undone by his own insecurities. Sciurus has to deal with his own mental and physical deterioration in a world changing before his eyes.

Henderson's Sciuridae is truly a villain for the ages, driving wedges between groups of people and cravenly exploiting their fears for his own advantage. He's a strutting wannabe fascist who facilitates massive destruction. Hmm, doesn't this remind you of a former President?

Val Westgate ("The School For Lies") is a sheer delight as Rodentia, a conniving and lustful vixen who schemes with Sciuridae. Many of the funniest moments are between Westgate and Henderson as they seduce each other.

MJ Daly is also sensational as Mammalia, a loyal and loving wife to Sciurus. Daly has some amusingly acidic dialogue – "I should have eaten you when I had the chance," she says to Rodentia.

Peckham's staging, along with the imaginative set design by Trevor Elliot, succeeds in pulling us into this unique and dangerous world.

Askins also wrote the provocative "Hand to God," which took on religion and sexuality. This time he serves up a satirical examination of human frailties, which results in the most horrifying of outcomes.

There's a particularly effective scene when Chordata wonders why people with different viewpoints aren't able to just listen to each other without fighting.

That's a sharp commentary on the political divisions in contemporary American society, which has led to the rise of right-wing extremist groups devoted to violent insurrection against the government.

There are references to overdevelopment and deforestation, which are endangering the squirrels and, by extension, the rest of the inhabitants of Earth.

It's a pleasure when you see a play which inspires deep thought about the world and our place in it.

It's even better when you can enjoy some laughs along the way. "The Squirrels" provides lots of them, and much more.

"The Squirrels" runs through May 15. Burbage Theatre Company. 59 Blackstone Blvd. Pawtucket, RI. For tickets, call 401-484-0355. Burbagetheatre.org.