←Recommendations of Escobar's Hippo

Small town bureaucracy, tyrannical hippos, and human-to-hippo transformation are the key components of this absurd political satire. Gonzalez brilliantly captures and sharply satirizes the verbal cartwheels and backflips of small town politics, the overthinking that impacts collective decision-making, and how bureaucratic protocol prevents action against a dangerous foe. The stage directions are a particularly witty treat, and the hippo itself presents a spectacular design challenge.

One of the quickest, wittiest plays I've ever had the pleasure to read! Gonzalez creates the most interesting uninteresting characters you will ever meet, and manages to bring artistry back into bathroom humor. While the comedy thrives, the underlying themes of conformity and revolution simmer, waiting to throw an arepa at any given moment.

I was lucky to see a reading of this play at Repertorio Español and it was an education: Not just about Hippos’ intense mating rituals or their 360 degree dung spreading techniques, but about humanity and our desire to pursue happiness.

Equally poignant and vulgar, absurd and heartfelt. Just a wonderful piece. Escobar’s Hippo would be a blast to stage and you’ll have a very happy cast as every role has their moments to shine. Query!! When is this play going to get its first production?

The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced ESCOBAR'S HIPPO as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the strong stylistic choices and the adaptation's current political questions, as well as the comic frustration amongst the three central characters. We leaned into the question if there is a meaningful way to retain one's humanity in the face of overwhelming destructive power and the seduction of simply acting as you will. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

What a trip! This show has something fun for everyone -- from costume designers to actors to whoever gets to design that poop fan. With all that fun, Gonzalez doesn't shy away from saying the important things as well. This is a wonderful take on a classic Absurdist piece -- check it out!

The notes for this play advise "It’s a play, so play around." and I can definitely see performers and the director having a wonderful reign to do just that with this wonderfully funny and imaginative piece. It combines the wonderful world of storytelling with the live and in-your-face-ness of theatre! I can imagine it making a fabulously entertaining show for any audience and the fact that it has had multiple well received productions in its recommendations already is hardly surprising. More people should bring Escobar's Hippo to life!

Watched a live reading at Texas State's Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration. Utterly hilarious and joyful play.

Escobar's Hippo by Franky Gonzalez was featured in NNPN's 2022 National Showcase of New Plays, and we are pleased to recommend it.

Who doesn’t love a good arepa? I never thought of them, though, as defensive weapons. This play is so much fun. Clever. Highly theatrical. And a thought-provoking meaningful fable to boot. Oh, the humanity! Oh, the hippopotami!

Escobar’s Hippo is a timely adaptation of Ionesco’s timeless classic that deftly deals with big questions with even bigger humor. This play is wickedly funny, delightfully absurd, and oh so human.