True West

Here’s a great American play about two troubled blood brothers, exact polar opposites, whose savage relationship reveals much of America’s pent-up resentments. First produced in 1980, it demonstrates the tremendous rage of writer/actor Sam Shepard when he was dealing with betrayal and disappointment. The writer of over 50 plays, he died in 2015, and his temper was well known. This tempestuous play goes some way to revealing why.

Austin (Darcy Kent) is a movie writer, living/writing in his mother’s empty house outside Los Angeles while she’s abroad. It seems the perfect spot for him to finish his script in peace. Except it’s the place where his wayward brother Lee (Simon Maiden) happens to come on this day. They’ve had no contact for five years and the brothers seem to be chalk and cheese.

Austin is hard-working on his script while Lee collects (steals) TVs and assorted goods from local houses, using his brother’s car. But during the visit of Saul (James Lugton), a lurid film producer, Lee rediscovers long-held-back writing talents and is soon becoming expert in his brother’s business. 

But Lee can’t type and this leads to a stop of all work on the script. Instead, there’s chaos and anarchy. The floor is strewn with household goods, pot plants, golf equipment… and… the play itself… 

The actors leave the stage. The house lights come on. After a while a voice assures us all is well with the cast. We have 20 minute break. 

When we return the director Iain Sinclair has ‘taken over’ the part of Lee. His tall frame is in Lee’s costume. He’s reading from a script, rather well as it happens. And this leads to…

…the arrival of the 4^th character and only female member of the cast. Mum (Vanessa Downing), well dressed and with two large suitcases, returns to her wrecked home, the floor covered with flung things. She dominates the final 10 minutes of the play, and it’s obvious from where the two boys get all their problems.

Extremely well directed by Iain Sinclair, the play has fine setting and costume design by Simone Romaniuk. 

Outside the theatre stood a waiting ambulance. I just hope everything settles down for future performances of this fine play.

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: Prudence Upton