Defending the Caveman

Defending the Caveman is a one-man comedy by Rob Becker (fl. 1990s)

The original text

Written and originally performed as a routine by the American actor and stand-up comedian, it deals with the misunderstandings between men and women. It originally opened in San Francisco in 1991, then played in Dallas, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Chicago, before opening at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway in March 1995. From there it went on to become the most successful and longest running non-musical, solo show in Broadway history, having been seen in theatres around the world by more than eight million people in forty-five countries by 2015.

Translations and adaptations

The play has been translated into more than eighteen different languages.

The English text was adapted for Southern Africa by Tim Plewman in 1997.

Translated into Afrikaans by Koos Kombuis in 2005 with the title Groet die Grotman ("Greet the Caveman").

A few South African spin-offs written by Frans Swart for Lefra Produksies have been Groet die Grotoupa ("Greet the cave grandpa", 2011), Groet die Grotheld ("Greet the Cavehero", 2016) and Groet die Grotman 2 (2020) .

Performance history of the original play in South Africa

An enormously popular play in South Africa, in both its (adapted) English original and the Afrikaans versions.

1998-2007: Originally produced in South Africa by Pieter Toerien, directed and performed by Tim Plewman. (The show was later also produced by Tim Plewman).

2005-: First performed in Afrikaans as Groet die Grotman, directed by Sandra Prinsloo and performed by Hannes Muller. It played all around South Africa for 10 years, doing over 1000 performances. In later years it was produced by Lefra Produksies, sometimes with other performers.

2011-14: Performed in English by Alan Committie.

2015: Performed in English by Tim Plewman once again, starting at the Emperor's Palace theatre, and going on to the Victory Theatre.