[NEohioPAL]True West at Fine Arts Reviewed as one that "Shouldn't Be Missed"
Wanda Wareham
wwareham at fineartsassociation.org
Tue Feb 17 07:17:04 PST 2004
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The following review is by John Benson, correspondent for The News-Herald.
It was published in TGIF on Friday, February 13, 2004.
Power struggles can be like looking at a highway car wreck. As we pass
by in safety, we scan the landscape and search for the fallen.
It is this feeling that audience members have to come to terms with
during The Fine Arts Association's production of True West, running through
next weekend in the Shadowbox Theatre.
Known as a playwright who likes to expose the human character--for all
to see, Sam Shepard mixes a thick stew of sibling rivalry and male
insecurity into True West, making it quite appetizing for all adult palates.
An analysis into the lives of a bully (Lee) and his punching-bag brother
(Austin), True West shows both sides of the insecurity fence.
While you don't necessarily condone the
intimidating-to-the-point-of-violence behavior of Lee, played with maniacal
precision by Daniel McElhaney, you can understand how his personality was
formed and commiserate with his shortcomings.
As for Austin, portrayed beautifully by the Ivy League-looking Ryan
Calderhead, his avoid-confrontation-at-all-costs persona is a mirror in
which anyone who was ever picked on while growing up finds it difficult to
glance.
The reflection is a familiar one, and this is just one aspect of
Shepard's genius.
As in most productions that expose the polarity of human behavior, at
some point, the two experience role reversal.
The performances of McElhaney and Calderhead are parallel in the sense
they both start out slowly as character is established and mood is set.
Just as the audience is introduced to the siblings, in a way so are the
actors.
To his credit, director Fabio Polanco's decision to use ancillary
elements--barking dogs and croaking crickets--to heighten a pressure-cooking
alcohol-fueled scene in the second half of the nearly two-hour production
works spendidly.
The resulting sizzle, replete with out-of-control egos and
nothing-to-lose attitudes, caters directly to Shepard's chaotic intentions.
When a moment of clarity follows among the diametrically opposed
brothers, the scene crescendos with Austin's intoxicated comment, "We all
sound alike when we're sloshed, we just echo each other."
With most Shadowbox Theatre performances, intimacy is a key selling
point. And with True West, where all of the action takes place in a
kitchen, there is no escaping the isolation of the desert and the loneliness
of masculinity as it relates to self-image or lack thereof.
Invariably, the mature-audiences-only True West shouldn't be missed for
many reasons, and you'll have to spend an evening with Lee and Austin to
figure them out for yourself. Be sure to check your vulnerability at the
door.
True West
by Obie Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard
is being presented by
The Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Avenue, Willoughby
You don't choose your family, your family chooses you. Nowhere is this more
apparent than in this contemporary classic by Sam Shepard. Desperate and
broke, Lee, a half-drunk, belligerent drifter pays an unexpected visit to
his younger brother Austin, an aspiring Hollywood screenwriter who is house
sitting for their mother. An ode to sibling rivalry, this intense comedy
hurtles towards an explosive high-noon showdown. (Rated Adult)
Final Production Dates
February 20 & 21 at 8:00 pm
Tickets
$17/Adults; $15/Seniors & Students
Group rates are available.
To Purchase Tickets
Call the Fine Arts Box Office at (440) 951-6637
Location
The Shadowbox Theatre of The Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Avenue (Rte
20), Willoughby, on the campus of The Andrews School.
The Cast
Ryan Calderhead as Austin
Daniel McElhaney as Lee
Kip Thomas as Saul
Kathe Tascone as Mom
The Artistic Team
Fabio Polanco, Director
Paul Gatzke, Scenic and Sound Designer
Kristen Buchs, Lighting and Costume Designer
Josh Brown and Kelly Elliott, Fight Choreographers
Nancy Brooks, Stage Manager
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D120534314-17022004>The =
following review=20
is by John Benson, correspondent for The News-Herald. It was =
published in=20
TGIF on Friday, February 13, 2004.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D120534314-17022004></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
Power struggles can be like looking at a highway car wreck. As we =
pass by=20
in safety, we scan the landscape and search for the =
fallen.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
It is this feeling that audience members have to come to terms with =
during The=20
Fine Arts Association's production of <EM>True West</EM>, running =
through next=20
weekend in the Shadowbox Theatre.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
Known as a playwright who likes to expose the human character--for all =
to see,=20
Sam Shepard mixes a thick stew of sibling rivalry and male insecurity =
into=20
<EM>True West</EM>, making it quite appetizing for all adult=20
palates.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
An analysis into the lives of a bully (Lee) and his punching-bag brother =
(Austin), <EM>True West </EM>shows both sides of the insecurity=20
fence.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
While you don't necessarily condone the =
intimidating-to-the-point-of-violence=20
behavior of Lee, played with maniacal precision by Daniel McElhaney, you =
can=20
understand how his personality was formed and commiserate with his=20
shortcomings.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
As for Austin, portrayed beautifully by the Ivy League-looking Ryan =
Calderhead,=20
his avoid-confrontation-at-all-costs persona is a mirror in which anyone =
who was=20
ever picked on while growing up finds it difficult to=20
glance.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
The reflection is a familiar one, and this is just one aspect of =
Shepard's=20
genius.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
As in most productions that expose the polarity of human behavior, at =
some=20
point, the two experience role reversal.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
The performances of McElhaney and Calderhead are parallel in the sense =
they both=20
start out slowly as character is established and mood is set. Just =
as the=20
audience is introduced to the siblings, in a way so are the=20
actors.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
To his credit, director Fabio Polanco's decision to use ancillary=20
elements--barking dogs and croaking crickets--to heighten a =
pressure-cooking=20
alcohol-fueled scene in the second half of the nearly two-hour =
production works=20
spendidly.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
The resulting sizzle, replete with out-of-control egos and =
nothing-to-lose=20
attitudes, caters directly to Shepard's chaotic =
intentions.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
When a moment of clarity follows among the diametrically opposed =
brothers, the=20
scene crescendos with Austin's intoxicated comment, "We all sound alike =
when=20
we're sloshed, we just echo each other."</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
With most Shadowbox Theatre performances, intimacy is a key selling =
point. =20
And with <EM>True West</EM>, where all of the action takes place in a =
kitchen,=20
there is no escaping the isolation of the desert and the loneliness of=20
masculinity as it relates to self-image or lack =
thereof.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004> =20
Invariably, the mature-audiences-only <EM>True West </EM>shouldn't be =
missed for=20
many reasons, and you'll have to spend an evening with Lee and Austin to =
figure=20
them out for yourself. Be sure to check your vulnerability at the=20
door.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D120534314-17022004></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><SPAN class=3D120534314-17022004>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><SPAN class=3D410583222-25062003><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004></SPAN></SPAN><FONT =
face=3DArial> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial size=3D4><SPAN =
class=3D410583222-25062003><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><STRONG><EM>True=20
West</EM></STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D770470922-14012004>by Obie Award=20
and Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D770470922-14012004><SPAN=20
class=3D120534314-17022004></SPAN></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D770470922-14012004><SPAN=20
class=3D120534314-17022004>is being presented =
by</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D410583222-25062003><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><STRONG>The Fine Arts Association, 38660 =
Mentor Avenue,=20
Willoughby</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004></SPAN><FONT=20
face=3DArial> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D770470922-14012004>You don't choose=20
your family, your family chooses you. Nowhere is this more =
apparent than=20
in this contemporary classic by Sam Shepard. Desperate and broke, =
Lee, a=20
half-drunk, belligerent drifter pays an unexpected visit to his younger =
brother=20
Austin, an aspiring Hollywood screenwriter who is house sitting for =
their=20
mother. An ode to sibling rivalry, this intense comedy hurtles =
towards an=20
explosive high-noon showdown. (Rated Adult)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004></SPAN><FONT=20
face=3DArial> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#ff0000><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><STRONG><SPAN =
class=3D120534314-17022004>Final=20
</SPAN>Production Dates</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><STRONG>February 20 & 21 at 8:00=20
pm</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV><SPAN class=3D410583222-25062003>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT =
color=3D#ff0000><STRONG><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003>T</SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003>ickets</SPAN></STRONG></FONT> </SPAN></FO=
NT><FONT=20
face=3DArial><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt =
0in"><FONT=20
face=3DArial><STRONG>$1<SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003>7</SPAN>/Adults; =
$1<SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>5</SPAN>/Seniors & Students</STRONG><SPAN =
class=3D050291322-06062003><FONT color=3D#0000ff> =20
</FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><SPAN=20
class=3D050291322-06062003></SPAN><FONT face=3DArial>Group rates are =
available.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D140490523-28042003>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D120534314-17022004><FONT color=3D#ff0000><STRONG>To Purchase=20
Tickets</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial>Call the=20
Fine Arts Box Office at <B>(440) =
951-6637</B></FONT></P></SPAN></SPAN></FONT>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
color=3D#ff0000=20
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><STRONG>Location</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003>The <STRONG><SPAN =
class=3D050291322-06062003><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>Shadowbox Theatre</SPAN> =
</SPAN></STRONG>of <SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>T</SPAN>he Fine Arts Association<SPAN=20
class=3D050291322-06062003>,</SPAN> 38660 Mentor Avenue (Rte 20), =
Willoughby, on=20
the campus of The Andrews School.</SPAN></FONT></P></SPAN>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003></SPAN><FONT face=3DArial> <FONT=20
color=3D#ff0000><SPAN><STRONG>The Cas<SPAN=20
class=3D050291322-06062003>t</SPAN></STRONG></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004>Ryan Calderhead=20
</SPAN></FONT>as <SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>Austin</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004>Daniel=20
McElhaney</SPAN> </FONT>as <SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>Lee</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004>Kip=20
Thomas</SPAN> </FONT>as <SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>Saul</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>Kathe Tascone =
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT>as <SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004>Mom</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003></SPAN><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT color=3D#ff0000><STRONG>The <SPAN=20
class=3D560081720-29042003><SPAN =
class=3D770470922-14012004>Artistic</SPAN>=20
Team</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>Fabio Polanco</FONT></SPAN>, Director</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Paul=20
Gatzke</FONT></SPAN>, <SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004><SPAN=20
class=3D560141421-15012004>Scenic and Sound=20
Designer</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D050291322-06062003><SPAN=20
class=3D770470922-14012004><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Kristen=20
Buchs</FONT></SPAN>, <SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004>Lighting and =
Costume=20
Designer</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><SPAN class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN=20
class=3D050291322-06062003><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004><SPAN=20
class=3D560141421-15012004>Josh Brown and Kelly Elliott, <FONT =
color=3D#000000>Fight=20
Choreographers</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P align=3Dcenter class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 6pt 9pt 0pt 0in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in"><FONT =
face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D140490523-28042003><SPAN class=3D770470922-14012004><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>Nancy Brooks</FONT></SPAN>, Stage=20
Manager</SPAN></FONT></P></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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