No community has a monopoly on savagery; every population shows a disregard for human decency from time to time. Josh Nordmark’s new offering attempts to examine civilization’s failures and unfortunately comes up short.

Verse (Celeste Burns) accompanies painter and scholar Henry (Matt Drake) to an island where he studies the native inhabitants; her spurned lover, the vicious Fauntleroy (Scott Danielson) follows and attempts to win her back. Verse’s refusal of Fauntleroy kicks off a series of events on the newly colonized island that indicates who the savages are.

The performances are intriguing, and Burns is necessarily appealing and she and Drake share believable chemistry. Danielson scores with the best punch lines. But the piece’s narrative arc and staging are clumsy and the show is burdened with unnecessary scenes and actors blocked out of their light. Nordmark has a terrific ear for both poetic and comedic dialogue, but he needs a more confident dramatization. (Lisa Buscani)

Nothing Special Productions at The Den Theatre, 1333 North Milwaukee, brownpapertickets.com. Through September 2. (Half-Priced Tickets)