True West
Roundabout Theatre Company
American Airlines Theatre
December 28, 2018
Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Co. |
In
True West Sam Shepard explores the
jealousy and competition between brothers by heightening the clashes and
destroying all acceptable facades. The
Roundabout Theatre Company production is well conceived and executed. Director James Macdonald creates a rhythm
between the two main characters that establishes their relationship. As the action develops and the tables turn,
the truth of the sibling rivalry reveals itself and explodes to an out of
control level.
Lee
(played by Ethan Hawke) drops in on his brother, Austin (played by Paul Dano),
who is house sitting for their mother (played by Marylouise Burke) while she is
on vacation in Alaska. Austin is focused
on writing a screenplay, while Lee is looking for his next grift. During a meeting Austin has with Saul Kimmer,
the producer of his project (played by Gary Wilmes), Lee interrupts and steals
his thunder. When Saul jumps at a story
idea pitched by Lee, the months of time and effort Austin put on his project is
brought to an abrupt and frustrating end.
The brothers are forced to work together and inadvertently face years of
deep seeded rage.
Ethan Hawke & Paul Dano Photo courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company |
Paul
Dano and Ethan Hawke are perfectly matched in this production. From the beginning of the play they are both
driven by underlying emotion that clearly defines their early years of growing
up together. When the stakes are raised,
they both reveal how far these suppressed emotions will take them. In the final scene any remains of rational
thinking is eviscerated and the sparks fly freely. Mr. Dano’s and Mr. Hawke’s characters are
impulsively driven. Each scene contains
unexpected turns that reveal their true selves.
Both men challenge themselves and deliver genuine performances.
True West is playing at
the American Airlines Theatre through March 17.
Don’t miss this Sam Shepard scrutiny of family dynamics and brotherly
rivalry.
Domenick Danza