Roustabouts Brings the Testosterone-Charged True West to the San Diego Stage
Every family has at least one toxic member. It could be the flaunting one who always chants victories, whether actual or not, the imposing one, the negative one, and so on.
Roustabouts’ year opener, Sam Shepard’s True West, brings two brothers like oil and water to hash it out at their mom’s suburban foothills home in the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley. The younger brother, Austin (David McBean), is a prominent screenwriter working on a sold love story. Aside from taking care of his mom’s plants while she’s on vacation, he’s happy to work in peace while getting some meetings done with the producer, Saul Kimmer (Dave Rivas). That is, until older bro Lee (Jason Maddy) unexpectedly drops in and dramatically changes the dynamic -yappin’ “coyots” and all.
The brothers are set to face their unkept relationship with all the feelings that come between them.
The histrionic dynamic between David McBean and Jason Maddy is intense. Phil Johnson’s direction is solid, showing a clear trace for each character that uses all the space, in a very yellow and green kitchen meticulously designed by Tony Cucuzzella with plenty of props courtesy of Justin Magallanes. This was like a scenic playground with lots of toys to play with.
The playwright has some hidden meanings or metaphors in that kitchen, which Cucuzzella brought nicely to life. McBean delivered a straightforward, intentioned Austin, which is contrastingly different from other roles he has performed. Seeing him play an average white man with demons was good, like everyone has. Lee is an unbearable bully, constantly resorting to violence and fear to get his way. Another good thing… because Maddy’s delivery is so authentic, audience members just want to throw the show program at him as a relief. That is, until he met his match, the telephone cord. In the performance I saw, that darn telephone cord had a mind of its own and became another character in the scene, which both actors McBean and Maddy took for a roll with people cackling in their seats. Dave Rivas added to the comedic and tense moments with producer/ audience expectations talk, hitting the nail on the head in one of the play’s many layers, pumped with tension and surprises. Another layer is Vicky Dawson as the brothers’ mom. Dawson is smooth and makes the character’s priorities clear.
The production has various sequences marked by Michelle Miles’ contrasting lighting and Matt Lescault-Wood’s sound, including effects combined with instrumental music and heavy metal songs that create the vibe. George Ye’s fight choreography rounded out the fitting elements in the play.
True West will prompt feelings, reactions, and even cravings for toast.
Currently playing until April 13. For more information, please click HERE.
Josie Gerk is the stage manager for this production.
