And now for the most irreverent opening to a review I may possibly make in my career as a reviewer for Lehigh Valley Stage:
“True West” - currently playing at Touchstone Theater – will blow you away.
The play by American playwright Sam Shepard is a ballsy, no-holds-barred piece and certainly not an easy production for any theater to tackle. Touchstone and Allentown Public Theater have, fortunately, done the play justice … and then some.
Produced as part of Touchstone's “Spotlight On The Valley” the show is produced by Allentown Public Theatre at Touchstone's theater at 321 East Fourth Street in Bethlehem. To quote from Touchstone's website: “Called 'The greatest American playwright of his generation' Pulitzer prize-winning author Sam Shepard paints a portrait of two estranged brothers brought together like opposing magnets. Austin, a Hollywood screen writer, and Lee, a desert drifter, expose hard realities to discover the True West.”
Set in a suburban home forty-miles outside of Los Angeles and begins with two brothers discussing their “reconnection” after five years apart.
Austin has been asked to look over his mother's house (especially her plants) while she is away on an extended vacation and is using the house as a sort of retreat to work on the current screenplay he is working on.
While housesitting he is “visited” by his older brother Lee who has plans to stay and “check out the security” of the local houses – with clearly sinister motives. It is a turbulent opening that sets the stage for the roller-coaster these two brothers (and their audience) are about to go on.
Austin is the younger and more “successful” of the two brothers. He went to college and works as a Hollywood screenwriter. Lee is a drifter who alludes to a criminal past and is prone to violent outbursts. There are moments of affection between these two but they are not often and always framed by screaming matches or destruction of property. They are joined together by a chance for Lee to turn his “true story of the west” into a screenplay and enlists Austin to help him write an outline to present to Austin's producer/agent.
Unfortunately, when the producer thinks Lee's story holds greater potential for success than Austin's screenplay it drives a wedge between the two brothers which is not easily removed.
It's not possible to pick out parts of this production which stand out – as the entire show is brilliant. The acting is perfect. The set breathtaking. The lighting and effects are superb. Even the scene changes warrant mention as the production staff is well choreographed and performs difficult changes with ease.
My only “complaint” was that the music between scenes was a bit too loud. Other than that, myself and the rest of the sold-out opening night audience was engaged and thoroughly entertained throughout the entire show.
Joshua Neth as Lee and Jason Roth as Austin are simply wonderful. There is genius behind these two actors and the characters they convey. Mr. Neth is a ticking time-bomb – only you never know how short his fuse is. He appears on stage at all times as if he is a tornado which hasn't quite touched down – but ready to destroy everything in its path once he does. Mr. Roth as Austin goes from bullied to humorous to manic in a heartbeat and is just as magnificent a force to watch as Neth. At all times both men dance around each other like wrestlers at the start of a championship match.
Even the few “gentle” moments between them are shrouded by their dark history and failings as brothers – which both convey with no more than an extra long swallow of booze or a prolonged glare. It is an impressive study of human nature and family which is very entertaining to watch since these two actors are able to speak of the decades of history between them with nothing more than a look.
The other two characters in the play are Bill Joachim as the producer “Saul.” Rather than play this as a sleazy stereotype he is both genuine and engaging. Perhaps not realizing what a “bargaining chip” he plays between the two brothers he simply says what he thinks and leaves without concern for the consequences of his actions … as most people would. Never intimidated but aware of what is going on around him he is a refreshing “break” from the tensions between Austin and Lee.
Kathy Patterson as “Mom” walks a tightrope of being cold without being callous and playing indifference with a subtle heartache buried deep but still ever present. It is pure genius from the moment she appears on stage. She could easily fade into the scenes behind her two boys but she never does – there is depth to everything she does and you can always feel the emotion behind her sometimes mundane lines.
The direction by James Peck throws in many subtle touches which did not go unnoticed by the audience and elicited everything from laughter to a collective holding of breath wondering what is going to happen next. Working with the fine ensemble he has both onstage and off Mr. Peck has crafted a stunning and entertaining piece that grips the audience from the start and refuses to let go … even if you're willing to hand over the car keys.
The physical action (and the destruction on stage) is going to leave you speechless. That's all I can say without ruining anything.
I could Google a plethora of adjectives to positively describe the aspects of this show (as if I haven't already) but it would only serve to make me sound clever and the point I need to impress upon you is that you need to go see this show. Honestly, this show is the quality of off-Broadway in both production and acting except it's right here in the Lehigh Valley and you don't need to pay off-Broadway prices or drive ninety minutes to see it! However, you only have a couple more chances to see it. So, go and see this show and find out for yourself just how wonderful a production this is!
“True West” runs February 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 - at 8:00 pm and February 22 at 2:00 pm.
For tickets call 610-867-1689 or visit www.touchstone.org
PHOTO BY KENEK PHOTOGRAPHY (l to r, Jason Roth, Bill Joachim, Joshua Neth)