Red Stitch Theatre,
80 Inkerman St., St. Kilda, March 21 to April 7, 2002
Reviewer: Kate
Herbert
A two-hander is
difficult to write and stage. No third character can enter and change the
dynamic. Austin Pendleton's play, Uncle Bob, does it with style and Kaarin
Fairfax's production is a
fine rendering of the script.
Pendleton, a member of the Chicago Steppenwolf Company, writes a pungent drama about the
relationship between a dying man and his stroppy nephew.
Bob, played compellingly by Neil Pigot, has AIDS, now lives alone since his wife
left him months earlier because he was difficult to tolerate. He is surprised
by Josh's (Nick Barkla) arrival
from the country where he lives with his father, Bob's brother.
But the play is not only about Bob's illness, his aloneness
or rudeness, his failed writing career or financial dependence on his brother.
Nor is it only about Josh's mania, his abrasiveness, his multiple car wrecks or
his suicidal tendencies.
It is about the profound familial attachment these two men
have for each other and that they try to keep under wraps. It manifests in
bitterness, abuse, unkindness and odd bursts of affection and attentiveness.
Pigot is exceptional as Uncle Bob. His acting craft is
superb and he inhabits Bob totally. Pigot carries the show with his riveting
performance and loving attention to detail.
Barkla is a less experienced and less skilful actor. His
Josh is generally believable and is absolutely committed. However his
performance lacks subtlety. The character runs on one note and full speed for
much of the play. This may be partly the fault of the writing or even the
direction.
Fairfax handles this aggressively in-your-face play by
treating it simply. She lets the characters do the work.
The tiny venue that Red Stitch performs in is ideal for this
intimate story. Nick Merrylees lighting emphasises the intimacy of the space while the
naturalism of Kellee Frith's set
design is appropriate.
The relationship between these two men is complex and
riddled with secrets both disturbing and innocuous. We are riveted and appalled
by their journey when Josh decides to stay with Bob.
Love masquerades as cruelty and desire as abuse. Each
demonstrates a pathological compulsion to die. Both enact this in a different
way. These are fraught characters with jagged edges.
We are confounded and mesmerised by the outrageous
resolution of their damaged relationship.
By Kate Herbert
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