True West, bringing characters to life

By Amos Johnson

Post Productions closed their 2017 theatre season with a performance run of Sam Shepard’s classic, True West.

Post Productions formed in September 2016 and have produced two other plays, Oleanna and The Worst Thing I Ever Did, this year.

The story is about two brothers, Austin and Lee. Austin is a screenwriter who house-sits for his mother in Alaska, while attempting to finish his screenplay. Lee, the oldest brother and con-man, also shows up in hopes of using their mother’s house as headquarters to steal from their neighbours.

Joey Wright, 26, plays the character Austin and read the story about two dozen times before auditioning.

“I was immediately connected to Austin. He is very Hollywood. He’s got pretty much everything he could want but at the same time he doesn’t. It’s an interesting balance to play, for myself, as having it all and wanting it all, because I don’t feel like I have it,” said Wright.

With the author’s death in the summer of 2017, the play acts as homage to his work. Sam Shepard died at 73 in his home in Kentucky and was known for being an Oscar-nominated actor as well as a famous playwright.

Cindy Pastorius plays the mom character and said she finds the character easy to relate to.

“Being a mom, I sympathize. I empathize. When I look at the boys I see my brothers and the struggle between their relationship. It’s not a huge role but it’s such an important part of the story,” said Pastorius.

True West will be performed on Oct. 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. at Sho Art Spirit & Performance on 628 Monmouth Rd.

“I think the end of the play has and will have such an impact on the audience that they’ll have no choice but to leave the theatre talking about it,” said Dylan MacDonald, 37, who plays Lee.

“That is the goal in all of theatre.”