Converting the Savages

by Bill Daniel

Rufus and Garrick, two struggling actors and buffoons, sneak aboard the hold of a ship bound for what they assume is exotic Mauritius. They have one goal: to teach American Theatrical Realism to the native islanders. The only problem is they have no idea how to do it. In an homage to the surreal absurdism of Ionesco and Beckett, and a much needed twist on the white savior complex, they descend into madness over...

Rufus and Garrick, two struggling actors and buffoons, sneak aboard the hold of a ship bound for what they assume is exotic Mauritius. They have one goal: to teach American Theatrical Realism to the native islanders. The only problem is they have no idea how to do it. In an homage to the surreal absurdism of Ionesco and Beckett, and a much needed twist on the white savior complex, they descend into madness over the course of the journey, and what they produce is unlike any kind of theatre they have ever seen.

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Converting the Savages

Recommended by

  • Kate Danley: Converting the Savages by Bill Daniel
    “

    With shades of Beckett, Stoppard, and a soupcon of Ubi Roi for flavor, this play is a theatre lover's dream. So smart, so witty, and full of such painful truth about theatre. Standing ovation! Of you're looking for an alternative to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead or Waiting for Godot, this is your play.

    With shades of Beckett, Stoppard, and a soupcon of Ubi Roi for flavor, this play is a theatre lover's dream. So smart, so witty, and full of such painful truth about theatre. Standing ovation! Of you're looking for an alternative to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead or Waiting for Godot, this is your play.

    ”
  • Chase Wheaton-Werle: Converting the Savages by Bill Daniel
    “

    Bill Daniel has crafted two characters designed for you to love watching them fail: quixotic blowhards as charming as they are inept, as confident as they are ignorant. Hearing them talk is like listening to the two most self-congratulatory theater history majors you’ve ever met flexing their knowledge at each other, and it’s gold. Darkly comedic meat for actors and designers and directors alike.

    Waiting for Godot meets Lord of the Flies with a healthy dash of Oh Hello on Broadway.

    Bill Daniel has crafted two characters designed for you to love watching them fail: quixotic blowhards as charming as they are inept, as confident as they are ignorant. Hearing them talk is like listening to the two most self-congratulatory theater history majors you’ve ever met flexing their knowledge at each other, and it’s gold. Darkly comedic meat for actors and designers and directors alike.

    Waiting for Godot meets Lord of the Flies with a healthy dash of Oh Hello on Broadway.

    ”
  • Zach Barr: Converting the Savages by Bill Daniel
    “

    The theatrical equivalent of a train crash: heart pounding, astonishingly fast, careening off the rails in a way that is impossible to look away from and borderline beautiful in its ugliness. A hilarious and surreal play about that most vital American export: self-destructive self-assuredness.

    The theatrical equivalent of a train crash: heart pounding, astonishingly fast, careening off the rails in a way that is impossible to look away from and borderline beautiful in its ugliness. A hilarious and surreal play about that most vital American export: self-destructive self-assuredness.

    ”