Playwright/actress/director/performance artist Katie Pearl combines all of her talents in a quirky, garish look at her three eccentric uncles in a new play, “Arnie Louis and Bob,” that pushes the boundaries of playwriting and traditional theatre at Trinity Rep.

When you walk into Trinity’s downstairs Dowling Theatre, it looks like you are participating in a yard sale. Michael McGarty has created a cluttered house complete with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and annexes covering every inch of space. (Many of the items were shipped here from Pearl’s actual homestead).

At first look, the play is sort of an “Odd Trio,” as Pearl writes about her three eccentric uncles who live together in their deceased mother’s house in Chicago.

Arnie (Brian McEleney) is the youngest and proclaims himself the rule-maker. He is a self-employed lawnmower who is unemotional and cynical, finding “happiness” in his guru.

Bob (Stephen Berenson) is the local Zamboni driver, always happy, whimsical and optimistic.

Enter Louis (Timothy Crowe) the older, troubled brother who has spent his life trying to create something of an autobiography. Psychiatrists would have a field day diagnosing this depressed, dejected shell of a man. Crowe, one of my all-time Trinity favorites, is absolutely brilliant as the troubled Louis.

Together, they squabble one minute, play Scrabble the next, and spend much of their time trying to find an e-Harmony match for lonely Louis. Soon, crazy bizarre things happen.

Pearl’s play becomes a major challenge for reviewers, because revealing the bizarre events that occur would spoil the surprises in the unorthodox script that follows.

Let me just say that playwright Katie Pearl becomes deeply involved in her creation, and stagehand Julia Atwood takes her task to heart.

Louis becomes obsessed with his writing when visited by Peter Pan. Bob, who is already obsessed with Taylor Swift, creates his own Neverland. Some of the results are quite clever as fantasy becomes reality, and beneath the craziness there is a great deal of poignancy. At times Pearl goes a bit overboard and needs to pull it in a little before things turn serious at the end.

One thing is for sure: You have never seen a play or production quite like “Arnie Louis and Bob.” It may be a bit too absurd for some, but stick with it and enjoy the antics of three veteran Trinity actors who know how to handle humor and pathos.

“Arnie Louis and Bob” is having its world premier at Trinity through May 8. Call 351-4242 for reservations.