Tunnel Rat
Written by Neil Cole
Directed by Brian LeTraunik
National Pastime Thtr, 941 W. Lawrence (map)
thru April 29| tickets: $15-$25 | more info
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‘Tunnel Rat’ gnaws at the living casualties of war
Genesis Theatrical Productions presents
Tunnel Rat
Review by Katy Walsh
‘I’m going to Disney World’ is such a happy statement. ‘I’m going to Vietnam’ is just the opposite for me. Thirty plus years after the war ended, I still associate Vietnam with negativity. I have friends who have vacationed there and describe its beauty. Maybe it’s because my dad served in Vietnam or the multiple unfavorable film depictions but, I
Genesis Theatrical Productions presents the American premiere of Tunnel Rat. Ronnie Giles is a Vietnam vet. At age 17, he was given the choice of serving time in prison or in the army. He chose war. Now, as a sixty year old man, Ronnie is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He has reoccurring flashbacks. As a soldier, his assignments sent him underground. The Viet Cong guerrillas utilized an elaborate tunnel system for transporting supplies and organizing surprise attacks. Ronnie’s job was to enter the tunnel system to gather intelligence. During one of his missions, he killed a woman. She continues to haunt him as he relives his past over and over again. Tunnel Rat gnaws at the living casualties of war.
Playwright Neil Cole shares the experiences of Vietnam Veteran Ronnie Giles. (Giles was in the audience opening night – see video below). Cole has the story unfold in the therapist’s office. The main character moves in and out of a delusional state as the audience pieces his life together. Under the direction of Brian LeTraunik, the cast thoughtfully examines a soldier’s struggle with honor during an unpopular war. At the focal point, Mark J. Shallow (Ronnie) effectively transforms back and forth from innocence to cynicism. From the start, Shallow delivers a poignant hopelessness that looks to be unresolvable.
And that proves to be troublesome for the show.
Cole ambitiously takes on someone’s real life and real PTSD issues but his therapeutic structure isn’t based in reality. Cole muddies Ronnie’s treatment with a therapist over-sharing her personal life. And maybe that did happen in real life but it shouldn’t have. Professional therapy is a one-sided life story. Although an animated Stefanie Johnsen (therapist) brings a refreshing sweetness to the soldier’s story, the character’s disclosure adds confusion. Along with Joyce Hshieh, the trio cast zealously morph in and out of Ronnie’s warped memories. The repetitive flashbacks are interesting but Cole doesn’t completely explain one particular sequence triggered by a cell phone. I want to understand but I don’t quite come out of this tunnel enlightened. I’m unresolved.
Tunnel Rat burrows along the surface. There is a story here and this talented cast commits to telling it. But it’s just part of the story. To get a truer look at Ronnie Giles, Cole needs to dig deeper into Ronnie’s past.
Rating: ★★½
Tunnel Rat continues through April 29th at National Pastime Theater, 941 W. Lawrence (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 7pm. Tickets are $15-$25, and are available by phone (773-327-7077) or online at BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at GenesisTheatricals.com. (Running time: 75 minutes, no intermission)
All photos by Allison Tenn
