“Bob & Jean: A Love Story” – Arizona Theatre Company
By Chris Curcio. Originally published in Curtain Up Phoenix.
Unlike New York and London theatergoers, Valley theater lovers rarely see world premieres. And often when premieres play here, they aren’t by significant and well-known playwrights resulting in less than stellar theater.
That’s not the case with Arizona Theatre Company’s (ATC’s) fascinatingly insightful play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan’s Bob & Jean: A Love Story. Not only is the play smartly presented in Matt August’s winningly staged and artfully performed production but it exposes the challenges of a separated relationship and how it can prosper with strong personal commitments.
It is during World War II and Bob is sent off to a remote Pacific Island as a bomb disposal officer while Jean struts her acting talents as a USO performer. Through brazenly honest and forthright letters loaded with passion and commitment, their romance faces the tests of separation. With their own original twists and turns, a meaningful relationship prospers.
What makes Bob & Jean: A Love Story so richly rewarding is that this story could happen anytime and not just during an historic world conflict. This relationship could occur anytime when couples are separated by actions that drive people apart. Could Bob & Jean: A Love Story be set today? It very well could!
So not only do we have a fascinating plot but we have a brilliantly visceral production that brings the piece to vivid and cunning life.
August’s exemplary dynamic and emotionally throbbing staging makes you feel like you stepped back in time. The production is enhanced by a fabulous unit set that serves multiple locales perfectly and historically appropriate period costuming. Even the lighting moves the audience’s eyes around as the action unfolds fluidly. The frosting on this delicious play is an acting ensemble that brings the historic period alive with effortless charm.
As Jean, Mary Mattison instills the effervescent charm and unbuckled enthusiasm of the character to winning life while Jake Bentley Young is the more serious but still excitable Bob. They play off each other with superb believability and lush romanticism. Scott Wentworth plays the Narrator with strong commitment as he reads the pairs’ letters that allow the story to unfold.
Bob & Jean: A Love Story is a very touching and tenderly engaging piece about the importance of connection especially within the challenges of separation. It is Broadway ready.