True West: Sam Shepard’s Bad Boy Pas de Deux

I have always thought of Sam Shepard’s True West as a two-hander. The brothers at the center of this heated drama, the screenwriter Austin and ne’re-do-well Lee, are entwined physically and spiritually; it’s their tension that enthralls. At the American Airlines Theater in a thrilling Roundabout production, they are Paul Dano and Ethan Hawke respectively. Of course there is a producer, Saul Kimmer (Gary Wilmes) ably aiding, abetting, and underscoring their sibling dis-function, and their dithering mother (Marylouise Burke), at least one half of the source. The other is the unseen father, allegedly a drunk who some time ago receded from society into the Southern California desert. Needless to say, the fruit does not fall far from that tree.

As directed by James MacDonald, the performances go through their paces as the brothers trade places—let’s just say there’s a lot of liquor involved. And a tower of toast, Wonder Bread browned in a competition among stolen toasters. Or maybe it really is the sound of crickets that spurs on the psychic animus. Nothing is more menacing than the mild mannered Paul Dano dancing, or volatile than the beer-bellied Ethan Hawke, here channeling Tom Waits meets Charles Bukowski, in a slow burn. These actors, infinitely talented, each directed a movie this year, Dano’s Wildlife, based on Richard Ford’s novel, and Hawke’s Blaze, an homage to Blaze Foley, an unsung music legend. Both films are among my favorites of the year.

On opening night last week, at a party at Brasserie 8 ½, Hawke introduced us to his mother Leslie. She had him at 18, in Texas, and took him to the movies, many inappropriate for children, she laughed. We were standing near a table where her son’s True West mother celebrated with her family and friends. At another table, Celia Weston who had played the mother in a memorable production starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Charles C. Reilly sat among friends. Ethan Hawke paid homage to his mother at this year’s New York Film Critics Circle dinner when he was honored as best actor for his performance starring as a priest in First Reformed. Hawke spoke about his long history withSam Shepard. He does the playwright proud.

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura