The production of Sam Shepard’s “True West” at Seattle Rep is a whip-smart crowd pleaser. And, it could not have come at a better time.

Life can be a bit frenzied these days, so it’s nice to settle into play that’s as forthright as it is mercurial. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of volatility in this tale of sibling rivalry and identity theft. After all, Shepard is known for creating characters with a certain nomadic and unpredictable bent.

The odd couple

In the instance of “True West” it’s Lee (Kevin Anderson) who represents the family drifter. Lee spends his days drinking, wandering the desert and jacking TV’s from unsuspecting homeowners for his subsistence. No big deal as Lee sees it, “They don’t need their TVs…I’m doing them a favor!”  

On the other hand, Lee’s brother Austin (Zachary Ray Sherman) is urbane, ivy league educated, and a script writer. In fact, he’s in the process of inking his first deal with a big Hollywood movie producer (Brandon J. Simmons).

House sitting for his mother (Lori Larsen) in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Austin is putting the finishing touches on his script when Lee darkens his door. It’s been five years since they’ve seen one another and, although strained, their initial exchange is amicable.

But, soon enough, Lee begins to insinuate himself into Austin’s life, and livelihood. After all, Lee has lived a colorful life, he has stories, so why can’t he write scripts like his brother? As a last ditch effort for a little peace and quiet from his bombastic brother, Austin agrees to write a treatment for one of Lee’s harebrained ideas.

It doesn’t take long for Lee to hijack Austin’s meeting with the movie producer. And before you know it, Lee is out golfing with the producer the following morning and shares his idea with him. Whether the producer liked his story, or lost a bet, by the time they hit the clubhouse Austin’s story is out. The producer’s focus is now squarely on Lee and his yet to be written script.

Tables turned

With the tables turned, Austin’s cultured veneer quickly fades. The last straw comes when the producer insists that he writes Lee’s script. Indignant, Austin flat out refuses even with a $300,000 payday attached.

All quickly devolves into a drunken scene where roles are reversed. Austin hits the hard stuff and goes on a thieving binge (toasters instead of TVs). Lee is tasked with trying to put his ideas into actual words on paper.  

Arguments about work, families and lifestyle choices ensue. Toast, of course, is made. And, their mother’s meticulous home is trashed just in time for her surprise early return.

Like other plays penned by Shepard, there is no neat and tidy resolution in “True West.”  Just some suburban Cain and Abel shenanigans dealing with underlying dad issues. There are coyotes, there are crickets and there’s a whole lot of whip-smart dialogue and top-notch acting.  Nominated for a Pulitzer in 1980, “True West” at Seattle Rep is a time-tested gem that’s worth rediscovering.

“True West” plays through February 16. For additional information on the production visit: https://www.seattlerep.org/

Venue: Seattle Rep, Bagley Wright Theater
Cast: Kevin Anderson, Zachary Ray Sherman, Brandon J. Simmons, Lori Larsen
Playwright: Sam Shepard
Director: Braden Abrabam
Scenic designer: Tim Mackabee
Costume designer: Deborah Trout
Lighting designer: Marcus Doshi
Sound designer & composer: Mikaal Sulaiman
Presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre