STAGE REVIEWS : Sophomoric ‘Creatures’ Should Be Squashed

Anthropomorphizing fish, birds, insects and rodents to illuminate human foibles may be an idea that looks good on the drawing board, but in the very adult, late-night semi-musical “Creatures” at the Burbage Theatre, it turns out to be an idea that shouldn’t expose itself in public.

Marilyn Fox’s direction is energetic, but the book and score by Gar Campbell are sophomoric and distinguished only by the vaguely amusing sadomasochistic byplay between a spider (Sue Giffin) and a fly (Darren Modder). The evening’s only honest laugh comes from Modder’s hilariously lascivious involvement with cleaning the last drops of honey from his front legs. He makes a great deal out of practically nothing.