Actors Vincent Gale and Brian Markinson, and Director Dean Paul Gibson, give Vancouver audiences a powerful piece of modern theatre.
For those of you visiting Vancouver, BC this month, the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company is presenting the play True West, by Sam Shepard. Put on your evening’s finest, head downtown, and enjoy a night of powerful modern theatre.
Austin is a straight-laced screenplay writer trying to break into Hollywood. While working on a script in his mother’s house, his concentration is broken by Lee, his absent older brother. Coming from “the desert,” the two argue, fight, and provoke each other into a state of almost-absurdity. When Lee charms Austin’s producer, his younger brother falls apart at the seams and descends into the life of a drunken slob. In other words, the two almost completely switch roles.
As Austin says, “There’s nothin’ real down here, Lee! Least of all me!”
Through the many moments of shouting comes quick humour and fantastic dialogue. Sam Shepard is a master at giving actors everything they need to deliver riveting performances. The two leads, Vincent Gale (Austin) and Brian Markinson (Lee), give it their all and incite laughter at all the right spots.
Standout was veteran actor Alec Willows, who plays Saul Kimmer, the producer Austin is working with on his script. When Saul decides to scrap that project and jump into a silly western idea from Lee, he deals with the rapidly-declining brother’s sanity to perfection.
Southeast corner of Hamilton and Dunsmuir, downtown Vancouver
Tickets: (604) 873-3311
Dates: March 29-April 19, 2008
