Review: Uncle Bob (Mary-Arrchie Theatre)

By Chicagotheaterbeat @chitheaterbeat

  
  
Uncle Bob

Written by Austin Pendleton
Directed by Cody Estle 
Mary-Arrchie Theatre, 735 W. Sheridan (map)
thru July 21  |  tickets: $20-$25   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
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Disturbing play lacks emotional fireworks

     

  

Mary-Arrchie Theatre presents

  

Uncle Bob

Review by Katy Walsh 

Playwright Austin Pendleton ‘goes there’ in his tip-toe-through-taboo-territory.  Pendleton explores the long-term connectivity of two men. Uncle Bob is a cantankerous hermit. Josh is his highly-agitated nephew.  Their relationship is built on raw honesty and a tortured kinship.  They spar with intellectual acidity.  Both men believe they are ‘uncompromising failures.‘  They are stuck together in a misery-loves-company bond of dysfunction. And they been shackled together since Josh was 8. 

Pendleton’s story is disturbing.  The uncle and nephew relationship continues to unfold with Jerry Springer-like explosive reveals.  Under the direction of Cody Estle, this show has bursts of raging tension.  Rudy Galvan (Josh) continually spirals into fits of fury.  A resigned Richard Cotovsky (Bob) reacts with varying degrees of push-back. Galvan and Cotovsky effectively establish the tumultuous routine of their relationship. It’s the true spark that is missing to make their doting synergy plausible. Although the script calls for plenty of fireworks, the actors have difficulty lighting the necessary fire.  And that element is central to the plot.  

Mary-Arrchie Theatre is primarily a dude-fest company.  I’m impressed that they would even take on Pendleton’s dirty-little-secret play.  Pendleton, himself has performed in the role of Uncle Bob.  That I can easily see.  Pendleton is a quirky character actor with a creepy vibe.  Cotovsky and Galvan are guy-guys.  Maybe if either one was paired with a more ambiguous counterpart, they could muster some complexity in this relationship.  Together, they are just awkward men mad at the world and each other.  The show never reaches the high stakes manipulation intended.  We can’t clearly see beyond the testosterone facade to the underlying vulnerability. The heat this relationship wants just isn’t there. 

Unfortunately, Uncle Bob isn’t worth visiting.

  

Rating: ★½

  

  

Uncle Bob continues through July 21st at Mary-Arrchie Theatre, 735 W. Sheridan (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm.  Tickets are $20-$25, and are available by phone (773-871-0442) or online through TicketWeb.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at MaryArrchie.com.  (Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes, no intermission)

Photos by Lev Kalmens

     

artists

cast

Rudy Galvan (Josh), Richard Cotovsky (Bob)

behind the scenes

Cody Estle (director), Kiley Morgan (stage manager), Lukas Brasherfons (asst. director, dramaturg), Andrew Hildner (set design), Claire Chrzan (lighting design), Stefin Steberl (costume design), Rachel Spear (sound design), Samuel Hubbard (fight choreography), Lev Kalmens (photos)

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