No matter how old you are, being at home with a sibling while the parents are away can lead to chaos, especially if the siblings suddenly find themselves in competition with higher stakes than a mere game of Mario Kart. Sam Shepard’s True West puts the drama in living-room drama as it explores the cut-throat nature of the film industry by way of middle-of-nowhere America. Directed by Jack Davidson and featuring an exceptional cast, True West keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Austin has been asked to watch his mother’s house while she’s away in Alaska: just water the plants and get the mail, he’s basically using it as a writing retreat. Austin is a screenwriter, and he’s working hard on his latest project. All of that peace and quiet gets thrown out the window when his brother Lee shows up at the house unexpectedly. Suddenly, Austin’s meeting with his producer Saul Kimmer has turned into Lee and Saul playing golf the next day, and that leads to wagers and contracts and Austin finds that the tables have totally turned on him. Now Lee is trying his hand at Austin’s profession, so why shouldn’t Austin give Lee’s a go as well? With their brotherhood put to the test, Austin and Lee are certainly a little worse for wear by the end of this play.

I think what struck me the most about True West was how un-true the story itself felt, particularly in the second act. Things boarder on the surreal with a full role reversal of the brothers, the mother’s return home, and their final standoff. The role reversal is funny, there’s no doubt, and Austin and Lee at least attempt to commit to their “new lives” yet there’s not a lot of thought that’s going into anything. Austin is just going to leave his family? And even when it’s brought up to him how absurd it sounds he has no plan as to how he’s going to tell his wife and kids that he’s leaving. When Mom comes back, her house is a disaster and her sons literally get into a fist fight while she’s in the next room. Yet she’s very calm about it all, simply telling them to take their fight outside. No hysterics, not even really a raised voice, just the words that she’s likely said a million times over as she surveys the damage around her. But what I think was the most improbable for me was the lack of a gun. True West takes place in the Southern US, Lee brags about having spent time alone in the Mojave desert, and you’re going to tell me that he doesn’t fully use his second amendment right? I thought for certain that’s how the play was going to end, with a bang, and yet no gun appeared! Again it adds to this odd, almost immaterial feel to the latter part of the play. Is there anything true about True West?

East End Arts St. Matthew’s Clubhouse is an intimate venue for this production and suits the needs of the play perfectly. With the living room space as the main part of the stage, but an open concept area leading into the kitchen, we’re always able to hear the characters no matter what room they’re in. The crocheted blanket and various plants give it such a homey feel. I particularly loved the old typewriter which sits centre stage; it’s a great focus point which we return to several times during the production.

Elkabong Theatre Projects’ artistic director Andrew Camerone and Brodie Nicholls star as Austin and Lee. Camerone’s calm and thoughtful Austin is in direct opposition to Nicholls’ brash and feisty Lee. Their dynamic is ever-changing, which elevates the drama inherent in the text. Jamar Adams-Thompson plays Saul Kimmer, and his swagger and charisma are perfect for this role. Using all of the most non-committal yet positive producer jargon in the book, Adams-Thompson’s character adds a unique element of comedy to this show. Barbara Fulton’s appearance is Mom is fantastic; she literally pops in for a singe scene at the end of the play yet manages to immediately steal our attention. With an undeniable presence and delivering exasperation only a mother knows, Fulton is stellar.

True West is a gripping story about family, storytelling, and what happens when competition gets the better of us. Though the play itself is 45 years old, the themes are timeless and still ring true today.

True West runs at the East End Arts St. Matthew’s Clubhouse until June 15. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/true-west-east-end-arts-tickets-1295198657049?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAY2xjawK2rYhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp8YELcL676_P6bo3NwJuvuQCU7YUxqv1LpaJKYRQr3LyTpRM232eGfXONPo5_aem_H_9wBZzFnQPoy6ukonfT0A

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Cover Photo: Brodie Nicholls, Andrew Camerone, and Jamar Adams-Thompson. Photo by Michelle Cheimak.

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