True West
by Sam Shepard
Blurb:
The season kicks off with Sam Shepard's True West - now a modern classic that made both John Malkovich and Gary Sinise stars! Two brothers come to a head with their testosterone-driven rivalries that climaxes with a riotous collaboration that literally reduces their relationship to a pile of rubble.
Cast:
Saul - Alan Knoll*
Lee - Kevin Crowley*
Austin - Scott Mcmaster
Mom - Nancy Lewis
Designers:
Jim Burwinkel – Scenery/Lighting
Scott Breihan – Costumes
Katie Donnelly – Properties
Joe Pini – Sound
* represents members of Actors' Equity, the union of professional actors and stage managers
Scott McMaster (left) and Kevin Crowley
Critics' Reviews
" HotCity presents "True West" with verve... McMaster, with his tense stance and clenched jaw, lets us see that Austin's a little bit frightened by his older brother. And Crowley, with his loping stride and sullen drawl, does nothing to ease that anxiety. Although the men look nothing alike, they make a persuasive pair. "
-Judith Newmark, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Read the full review)
"HotCity Theatre continues to provide St. Louis with a mix of new plays and modern classics, and actor/playwright Sam Shepard's True West is their latest foray in these areas...HotCity's production is distinguished by an excellent cast and sparkling direction that consistently engages."
-Chris Gibson, Broadway World (Read the full review)
" Despite fine performances from Crowley and McMaster, and Crowley displays anger extremely well, a very brief appearance by Nancy Lewis steals the show... Doug Finlayson's direction is winning, and Jim Burwinkel designed set and lights that are just right. Scott Breihan's costumes are eye-catching, especially the pink shirt on Knoll and the Cossack shirt and suede boots on Lewis. "
-Joe Pollack (Read the full review)
" It’s a tight ensemble that works well together with the versatile, gifted Finlayson to provide an enjoyable evening at the theatre."
-Andrea Braun, The Vital Voice (Read the full review)
Video Teaser
Director's Notes
When you mention True West to certain actors they salivate! The opportunity to mix it up as one of the two brothers, Lee or Austin, is for some, like drugs. Auditioning this production was great fun. The lobby was filled with unshaven, wild-eyed, t-shirted thespians. Finding the right duo to play the brothers was a challenge given the great talent available. Now that the cast is set, the hard work of activating the play is at hand. For nearly two hours, Lee and Austins’ booze--fueled family reunion takes the brothers on a dark and hilarious ride.
The challenge of working on a play like True West is finding the humor while digging into the dense and hidden reasons for why the two men have come to this showdown in their mother’ home. Austin and Lee are caught in a kind of suburban purgatory. They seem as different as two siblings could be, but their common DNA tangles them up, tying them one to the other.
Like many great actors before them, our cast gets to leap into the pool of toasters, typewriters and torment, crafting their own compelling biographies to make this amazing play jump off the stage.
- Doug Finlayson