←Recommendations of APEX PREDATOR

I was on the edge of my seat reading this. In just a few pages, this went from amiable encounter to bullying and attempted assault to possible rape. And the ending is no comfort because you are left never knowing if this is salvation or an escalation of the ongoing events. What a finish! Would LOVE to see this produced!

Rape nearly averted - or is it? - by sheerest coincidence on the final page, after the two good ol' boys have had their verbal fun with the lone female ornithologist caught in their trap like the eagle whose talons have been ripped off. Rachael Carnes, who so often deals in comic whimsy in her short plays, is deadly serious here. And the atmosphere of isolation and impending doom in northwest Oregon at dusk, miles from the nearest town, only adds to the sense of burgeoning terror she creates.

This play is absolutely terrifying. Never before have I read a 10-minute play that turns so quickly into something chaotic: the reader/audience watches as civilization breaks down and becomes something wild and animalistic. And the scariest part is that it feels so, SO very real. Rachael Carnes has written a play that should be a warning to everyone about men the danger they can pose to those around them. This is a scary gem that would be amazing to see onstage.

Never in my life have I ever expected to hear someone say “I am not going to fucking hoot for you.” “Apex Predator” is comedic with a tinge of eerie, and a part of that eeriness is accredited to Carnes’s choice for setting and unpredictable nature of the predators. “Apex Predator” explores one of humanity’s biggest fears: the fear of being watched and hunted. Theatre companies who need a unique and provocative piece of theatre should look no further than this piece.

A chilling look at an encounter between a woman scientist and a couple of beer-swilling good ol’ boys “just kidding around” out in the back woods of Oregon. In eleven tight pages, Carnes deftly portrays a certain repugnant species of masculinity and its terrifying effects. A great piece.

Things go wrong very quickly for scientist Margaret when she runs into Dan and Bob, two good old boys. This play really captures the chasm between men and women, scientists and outdoorspeople. It's a sophisticated take that allow the men in the piece to be menacing, clueless, well intended and poorly informed. Lots of colors for Margaret to play as well as her emotions shift from annoyance to anger to fear.

Would that these guys could see this play and realize that - even though they say they're being jerks - they might actually recognize how terrifying it is to be the prey. Carnes has written a play that displays modern masculine humor at its lowest to help us all better fathom the mess we're in.

I saw these two guys, right off, as complete jerks. They wouldn't leave her alone either. The contrast of a couple of calloused cowboys and a woman with an admirable job to protect our wildlife creates a frightening situation. Plenty of tension here, and an unexpected ending.

A true to life story that accurately captures how quickly masculinity can go from friendly to dangerous. A scary read that culminates with an honest open ending.

A scary play that quickly grips you and doesn't let go until the very last moment. The characters have nuance and are strong roles for any of the three actors. The conclusion also provides a sense of ambiguity and gives you no easy answers in this compelling piece.