Uncle Victor


Act I

Sound # 1: opening music, birds

(The gallery of Waverly, the Trowell family suger cane plantation in South Louisiana, 1899. AUGUST GREENAN, a handsome, awkward young doctor, 29, sits sleeping in a chair. The old NURSE hums a spiritual "Rock of Ages," stands, removes a liquor bottle from the doctor, then exits. MAMERE, an imperious but forgetful matron, enters with a candle.)

MAMERE
Where's Rosalie, Bertha, Ella?

DOCTOR
Careful with the candle.

MAMERE
I got to come from way in back of my house. (calls out) James! Andrew! Clifford!

DOCTOR
They're gone Mrs. Mallory.

MAMERE
Nobody gets the door at my house (paces)

DOCTOR
For God's sake, sit.

MAMERE
Bertha! Verma! Rosalie!

DOCTOR
I'm Dr. Greenan. Augie Greenan.

MAMERE
I can't remember

DOCTOR
You sent me to medical school

MAMERE
Nobody sweeps the gallery?

DOCTOR
From spare change in your kitchen tin-

MAMERE
Dust all over the woodwork. Grass overgrown-

DOCTOR
Let me help you.

MAMERE
Statures crushed. There's the head of one over there.

DOCTOR
Sit, Mrs. Mallory.

MAMERE
The gates are shattered. A sundial disappeared overnight.

DOCTOR
Shouldn't you be asleep?

MAMERE
I can't rest when Waverly is falling apart. Shutters flap. I don't want to tell Mama because I'm not sure if she's alive or dead. (Calls) Mama.

DOCTOR
She's dead.

Performance History

Uncle Victor was produced at Southern Rep Theatre, New Orleans and the Chamber Theatre Budapest, Hungary, by the American Embassy Spring and Fall, 2000 and at a staged reading with the Cort Theatre, Hollywood (winner of the best new drama 2000) October, 2000 and at the Six Figures Theatre Co., NYC, April 17, 2001. Other invited stage readings include: the Drama Bookstore, and the National Arts Club, Chekhov Festival New York City, 2004.