Racial tensions give Brownie Points a case of cabin fever

Theatrical Outfit’s dramedy Brownie Points depicts the most uncomfortable imaginable camping trip that doesn’t include a slasher in a hockey mask. Five mothers bring more than a dozen girls to a remote cabin to commune with nature, only to encounter torrential downpours, falling trees, a power failure and unhealthy snacks.

In its world premiere production, Brownie Points comes equipped with all the essential gear for a comedy of tender-footed city slickers forced to rough it in the great outdoors. Instead of escaping big city pressures, however, the characters face the unspoken racial tensions between the three white and two black moms on the trip. In guiding the action, Atlanta playwright Janece Shaffer too much resembles trip organizer Allison (Carolyn Cook), who overloads the getaway with so many events, the overnight vacation feels micromanaged.