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| Coastal Rep presents riveting Sam Shepard study By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 11:29 AM PDT In these economically challenged times, it’s tempting to skip a strong drama and seek pure escapism when it comes to entertainment. But when that strong drama is Coastal Repertory Theatre’s ongoing production of the irreverent Sam Shepard drama “True West,” that would be a mistake – cheating the viewer out of a memorable theater experience, chances for reflection and several belly laughs. In what is allegedly an examination of his own innate duality, Shepard uses engaging, clipped writing to grab the viewer right away and not let go, with a blend of suspense, empathy and black humor. Viewers laugh while they cringe at his searing psychological study of frustration and sibling rivalry gone amok. Screenwriter Austin (Scott Solomon) is kept from finishing his masterpiece by the arrival of black-sheep brother Lee (Peter Owen) who schmoozes his way into the good graces of smarmy producer Saul Kimmer (Curtis Fleharty) at Austin’s expense. There’s foreboding from the start as longstanding wounds and tensions creep to the surface and finally erupt into a surreal scenario. An almost gleeful use of props like crumpled beer cans and a collection of toasters tops off the surrealism. In their skirmishes there is humor plus a good helping of Shepard’s skill with the absurd and for inviting viewers to have a field day with interpretations. But there’s also tragedy in the fact that the situation takes place between two grown men and acquires a life-and-death intensity. All those layers are well developed through the sharp acting skills (and stamina) of Solomon and Owen, who volley Shepard’s barbs with tight pacing and raw emotional underpinnings. Solomon, already a Coastal Rep regular, shows mastery of near-the-surface emotions like the slow burn. You can feel his dilemma over the fact that this black sheep is his brother, and his outrage at that brother’s betrayal. Owen makes viewers walk the line between repulsion at the potentially violent Lee and empathy for a character clearly scarred by life. Both actors shine in sheer physical theatricality. Fleharty makes skins crawl as Saul, while Linda Henderson gets attention as the out-of-touch mother, a role just the right size for her return after many years to Coastal Rep. Her character reduces the brothers back to little-boyhood, and brings ribald, uneasy laughs. Ivy Henry’s subdued lighting strikes the right mood. Rich Allen’s gradual set disintegration — panels are stripped off to reveal the stark desert outside — underlines the unraveling of lives, though a little too subtly. Bottom line: As tough as things are, we can still laugh. And, after all, there’s always someone worse off. |