one-man apocalypse now

photo by Maria Shaplin

photo by Maria Shaplin

 
 

One-man apocalypse now

Whether you’ve seen the film or not, Chris Davis’ One Man Apocalypse Now will be a funny, dark, poignant, playful and well-spent hour of your life.
— Patricia Highsmith, DC Metro
It is a tour de force that convinced me I must now see all his other work.
— Mark Cofta, Broad St. Review
Davis throws himself into the role with abandon; at one point he plays a female stripper and does a shimmy that, for better or worse, you won’t be able to get out of your head for a while.
— Tim Dunleavy, DC Metro
The play is at once funny, sad and familiar. He’s a comic bastard, who pulls lines about not knowing what he’s doing in his 30’s, in a basement, in a strange neighborhood in Pittsburgh, shirtless, re-enacting a scene where he’s about to bludgeon himself to death.
— Jason Clearfield, PGH in the Round
Chris Davis put on a thrilling meta-theatrical performance while running through the major scenes of the film. He slipped effortlessly between characters while weaving in the careers of the film’s actors and parts of his own life as well. It brought to mind a crazy sweaty fusion of “Apocalypse Now” and “Hearts of Darkness”, the acclaimed documentary depicting the horrors involved in making the film.
— Peter Jacobs, First Looks at Portfringe, ME
The most unusual and also greatest moment of the day was Chris Davis’ off-kilter comedy One Man Apocalypse Now. True to its title, this is a show in which Davis condenses the anti-war epic into a fifty-five minute extravaganza of unbelievable celebrity impressions, complete and utter commitment to character, and parody that goes so far beyond its one-note conceit into a kind of sublime mania.
— Mark Sklaski, PGH in the Round
Chris Davis re-imagines the iconic film Apocalypse Now in a hilarious and dark 60-minute adaptation.

Imagine Apocalypse Now performed by one-actor, in 60 minutes, recreating some of the most famous scenes from cinema history through Chris Davis' unique theatrical lense. Backed by the soundtrack of the movie, Davis explores the heart of 'darkness' through movement, sound, dance, comedy, drama, lunacy, philosophy, and more in this high-octane 60-minute tour-de-force, directed by Mary Tuomanen and sound design by Adriano Shaplin.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Thespis Festival, Kiel Germany - Nov 2018

Edinburgh Fringe Festival - UK - Aug 2017

East to Edinburgh - New York - July 2017

Portfringe - Portland ME - July 2017

Philadelphia Fringe Festival - Philadelphia - Sep 2016


Production Photos (philly fringe 2016’)


Sketches by Chuck Schultz inspired by the show