Con-Con’s ‘The Squirrels’ is a hilarious look at a society that has ‘gone nuts’

Photo Credit Rob Wachala/convergence-continuum

Squirrels...those fuzzy denizens of the suburbs that we love to watch scampering about and playfully chasing each other...are they not just the cutest? That is what they would want you to believe. In reality they are mean little fluffy tailed rats who are not above to (when conditions warrant) eating their young, eating each other, castration, incest, biting out an occasional eye, hoarding, emptying your feeder and taking up residence in your attic.

Their loose form of government runs along Communist and Socialist ideals. There is no “One Squirrel, One Vote” and “All Squirrels Matter” is a concept quite beyond their grasp. In Robert Askins’ hilarious play “The Squirrels” (now on stage at Convergence-Continuum) we get a crash course on the inner workings of their society (or Squirrold).

Sciurus (Joseph Milan) is the elder patriarch of the tree. He lives there with his wife Mammalia (Ami Collier), daughter Chordata (Hannah Rutkowski) who is dating a “Red”, Carolinensis (Calvin Adkins) as well as adopted daughter Rodentia (Hannah Storch) who is also a “Red”. They are a family of “Grays” with some exceptions as noted.

Sciurus is a hard worker having spent his years collecting all varieties of nuts, seeds, berries, mushrooms, plant bulbs and tree bark. He has hoarded this collection in order to keep himself fed as well as his family. Fact is he has enough to last ten winters.

Hard times have befallen the Squirrold (Squirrel World) with Reds and Blacks barely surviving. Chordata arrives with Carolinensis to ask Sciurus for assistance in feeding the hungry. Sciurus promises to think about it but then Sciuridae (Vince Stillitano) arrives to sow the seeds of discontent. Sciuridae’s plan is to find the stash and set himself up for life. Sciuridae convinces Sciurus that sharing is totally wrong. After all, the other squirrels had the same opportunity to collect as anybody. When Carolinensis returns for an answer he and Sciurus fight with the patriarch taking his eye. Meanwhile, Mammalia is stealing from the supply in order to help the less fortunate while Chordata gets brutally attacked.

To be honest, this show is nuttier than squirrel poop but that is what makes it so delightful. Grown actors with large bushy squirrel tails prancing about the stage making all sorts of clicks, sputters and muck muck (love/affection/sex) noises. Along with the hilarity is the social tale of what happens in a society when one holds control over the many and is convinced to hoard rather than share. There is also lectures by a renowned Squirrelologist (Vince Stillitano) that explains life in the trees. The show is rated R for hilarious depictions of squirrel mating including a short video of two furry lovers going at it.

The ensemble cast works extremely well together weaving a believable yarn that is socially relevant while at the same time truly funny. Everyone takes their role to the next level of absurdity as they become their character.

The set design by Scott Zolkowski (who also does the costuming) has to be seen to be believed. A large tree with nests, havens and boroughs give plenty of room for all the physical antics. Leo Fez supplies the background sound that puts us all right smack in the middle of a back yard (complete with barking dogs in the background). Robert Wachala is up to task for the lighting that really sets the atmosphere. Two unsung heroes of the show are Kari Barclay as intimacy director and Natalie Steen as fight choreographer. You can tell they worked hard with the cast. Cory Molner does a fantastic job as director keeping the show running at a squirrel feverish pace while keeping within the 90 minute time frame without intermission.

Sometimes the best way to portray something as social relevant is to present it as a completely farcical comedy. As this show turns a mirror on our own squirrely society we can walk away asking who are the squirrels and who are the nuts...muck muck muck.

The Convergence-Continuum production of “The Squirrels” will be on stage at 2438 Scranton Road in historic Tremont, Cleveland, Ohio through April 19, 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets go to http:///www.covergence-continuum.org or call (216) 687-0074.