Defending the Caveman

Caveman comedy

By Caroline Fontein

Understanding the opposite sex may never be easy, but Kevin Burke breaks it all down for you in “Defending the Caveman” at Excalibur. He stars as the narrator for this hilarious one-man comedy, created by comedian/writer Rob Becker, that attempts to debunk the age old myth that men are all jerks.

Before landing in Las Vegas, Burke starred in the Broadway tour of “Defending the Caveman.” The timeless subject matter and the insightful humor about the differences between men and women have made "Defending the Caveman" the longest-running solo play in Broadway history. It has been seen in 45 different countries and translated into 30 different languages.

“Instead of looking at men as a--holes, why don’t we just look at them as having a different culture?” asks Burke at the beginning of the show. Then he starts to explain how many of the same characteristics that were conveyed by cavemen are still very apparent in modern day behaviors of men and women and that understanding this is the key to also understanding the opposite sex.

Prehistoric-looking props and lighting and sound techniques are used to enhance Burke’s performance. His casual stage presence and typical jeans and T-shirt ensemble give him the every-man look that all guys can relate to. 

Women like to shop because they are innate gatherers, says Burke. Cavewomen were in charge of gathering food and knowing what colors to look for as an indication that certain things were ripe and ready for the picking. This same concept explains why women like to shop and gather more clothes when the seasons change, even if their closet is already full.

Cavemen on the other hand had only one task and that was to hunt. He explains that this is why men have a more narrow and focused mind. Burke uses watching television while his wife, Karen is attempting to talk to him as an example.

“If I’m watching and Karen comes to talk to me, I can’t even hear her,” jokes Burke.

He uses many funny scenarios like this during the show to narrate the different ways that men and women respond to the same situations and the hilarity that arises from them.

As Burke shares more instances from his life, couples in the audience laugh and nudge each other, acknowledging that they relate to his experiences. Single people in the audience find the show equally amusing and also enlightening on how to better interpret the opposite sex on their next date. His typical audience includes everyone from young people visiting for a wild weekend to people celebrating bachelorette parties, anniversaries or just a good time in Vegas.

While this show is scripted, Burke refers to the audience for inspiration and to help dictate each performance.

“Even though I am the one who has all the lines, the show is really a conversation with the audience. The way they react to the show will then affect me and the way I perform the next line… Every audience is different so it’s as though I have a brand new acting partner every night,” said Burke during an interview.

Before "Defending the Caveman" he worked as a stand-up comic for more than 15 years and was inspired to do the show after being impressed with its positive message.

“Once I read the script and I saw that this was a comedy that brought people together and built people up as opposed to tearing people apart, that’s what made me want to do it. If this had been ‘Andrew Dice Caveman’ I never would have been interested,” said Burke.

When it comes to the one relationship rule that people should take from the show, Burke explained that laughter and understanding is the key to a happy relationship.

“After seeing 'Defending the Caveman' I can’t guarantee that you’ll never fight as a couple, but I do guarantee that your fights will be a lot funnier,” said Burke.