True West
In Sam Shepard's primal comedy, Austin and Lee, brothers, begin as Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison, and end up as Jekyll and Hyde -- but which one is the good doctor? One of the best features of Cygnet's fine production: how Francis Gercke (Austin) and Manny Fernandes (Lee) play emotional gamesmanship. Each tries not just to top the other but to keep him down, as if they must repress that part of themselves, like kicking a habit. Director Sean Murray treats the play as a period piece (and these days 1980 looks like a foreign country). Shepard loves to skew stereotypes. Casting Antonio TJ Johnson, an African-American, as the Hollywood producer Saul Kimmer, shatters expectations. And having Jill Drexler as the brother's semi-ditzy mother is inspired. She gives dimension (and humor) to a vapid part. [Note: True West runs in repertory with Shepard's Fool for Love.] Critic's Pick.
When
Ongoing until Sunday, November 2, 2014
Hours
| Sundays, 2pm & 7pm |
| Wednesdays, 7:30pm |
| Thursdays, 7:30pm |
| Fridays, 8pm |
| Saturdays, 3pm & 8pm |