The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron?


Ben Evans
Robert Dubac's one-man show is represented well by City Theatre's current production featuring Ben Evans. A humorous diversion for the summer months, the show is scheduled to run through July 8 in the company's Hamburg Studio Theatre.

Evans plays Bobby, who is trying to survive a two-week post-breakup period after which he expects a phone call from his former fiancee Julie saying she wants to continue the relationship. While he waits, he tries to figure out why they broke up and how he can make a success of the relationship. The tools at his disposal include analysis of the left side (male, cluttered) and right side (female, neat and questioning) of his brain and the harkening of the philosophies of various male characters from his life. By the end of the 90-minute show, Bobby has reached a conclusion and moves on - or does he?

Dubac's show uses catch phrases and irony to present a laugh-filled trip through the world of male-female relationships (men "lie" while women "change their minds"). Examining and deconstructing the stereotypes of men and women offers a fresh look at why relationships work (or don't work) the way they do. Some of the joke lines arrive expectedly, but many are new twists on old issues and leave the audience nodding in agreement. Those in a relationship should identify well with the smooth as well as the bumpy segments of Bobby and Julie's relationship.

Ben Evans (the best thing in the City's Hearts Are Wild last year) wins over the audience immediately with an open, self-deprecating personality. From a location described as "stuck between past memories and present turmoil inside Bobby's brain," Evans keeps the energy high and does a nice job transitioning between Bobby and other characters like the regimented Colonel, suave Jean-Michel, cool Fast Eddie, dorkie bachelor Mr. Linger and tough guy Ronnie Cabrezzi. It's all light fun based in truth, presented well.

The set (design uncredited) consists of all of the props necessary to illustrate Bobby's points of examination: the cluttered frat-house type setting for the male side of the brain and the sparse, bright female side; a chalkboard to list and compare male traits and the clues that lead to the revelation of what women really want.

The Male Intellect is a perfect bit of light entertainment that may generate deeper conversation on the way home. The show has been extended through July 28. For performance and ticket information, call 412-431-CITY or visit www.citytheatrecompany.org.


Photo: John Schisler


See the current Schedule of Pittsburgh Theatre.


-- Ann Miner