What's Funny About Climate Change?

A comedy revue on melting ice caps, rising sea levels and record high temperatures will be offered by Human Nature, a touring theater company based in the Mattole Valley in Northwestern California.

"What’s funny about global warming is not the rapid changes our planet is undergoing, but the way in which people attempt to deny it, hide it, exploit it, or explain it away," said David Simpson, one of the show's writers and a founding member of Human Nature. "A lot of people, understandably, would just as soon not hear the news. What we're offering is a relatively painless extraction of decaying rationales. It's the sickness that robs us of hope, not the cure. The cure can be exciting, exalting and fun."

Human Nature first came to public attention in the early '90's when its musical comedy, "Queen Salmon," toured throughout the Pacific Northwest to great audience and critical acclaim. The San Francisco Bay Guardian called it "the funniest ecology lesson ever," and the show helped forge a citizen movement to restore salmon in the region. For "What's Funny About Climate Change?" Simpson is joined on stage by his longtime partner Jane Lapiner, the artistic director of Human Nature, as well as by their daughter, Joyful Simpson, who takes on the central role of Raven in the show.

"Everything is seen through the perspective of Raven," Lapiner explained. "Her task is to awake humans to the reality of what's at stake. She alternately charms and browbeats her audience, accuses and cajoles them. As a trickster and shape-shifter, she tries out one form after another. It's achingly funny."

"What's Funny About Climate Change?" is fast-moving, incisive satire recommended for thoughtful audiences of all ages.

Produced by Human Nature at the Gard Theater. Co-hosting the show are the Spring Green Area Arts Coalition, River Valley Players, and underwriting the show with a grant of $250 is The River Valley Community Learning Foundation. Human Nature is also coming to Madison to perform at the UW Union Theater and will make a side trip to Spring Green.

Performances: May 2-3, 2004

Ticket prices for the Gard Theater performance are $8 at the door or in advance from The Spring Green General Store. For more information call Jeannie McCarville at 583-2748 or Derrick Gee at 588-3942.

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