Brian Maddern (playing Austin), left, and Jon A. Sampson (playing Lee) rehearse “True West.” Photo courtesy of Spotlight Theatre

Photo courtesy of Spotlight Theatre

By Alex Neal, Spotlight Theatre marketing coordinator, and Jennifer Sampson, director

“True West,” written more than two decades ago, is Sam Shepard’s tale of sibling rivalry between two estranged brothers who have reconnected. Austin, the younger brother, is a Hollywood screenwriter writing a screenplay while house sitting for his mother, who is vacationing in Alaska. His older brother, Lee, appears at the house after the two have not seen each other for years. Lee is a drifter and thief and has been living in the desert. The two are not on good terms, but Austin attempts to appease his older brother, who is more dominant.

Lee meets Saul, the movie producer who has been collaborating with Austin, and charms him. Lee ends up winning a bet against Saul in a round of golf, the victory granting Lee a chance to write a screenplay of his own for Saul to produce. Austin is happy to hear the news until he discovers that, because of this, Saul is dropping his project to make room for Lee’s. Over the course of that evening and into the next morning, the two brothers drink themselves into a stupor and argue and fight as Lee struggles to write his screenplay with his brother’s assistance. In the morning, their mother returns from her vacation early and discovers the house a mess. But she is too senile to care in the way a normal person would. Tensions grow between the two brothers and the action of the show takes its final turn, resulting in a struggle for life.

In spite of its basic, somewhat follow-the-formula sitcom construction and naturalistic dialogue, this dark comedy manages to say significant things about American civilization and the way we have been socialized, modernized, and alienated. It also takes a profound look at the dual nature of identity that resides in all of us. The roles of brothers Austin and Lee are such that any actor would give his eye-teeth to attempt. Here they are played by Bryan Maddern and Jon A. Sampson, who are giving lean, intense, highly focused performances. Which brother will win out? Which will be abandoned, and how bloody will it get?

“Tackling a difficult role is an exceptionally rewarding experience as you are afforded the rare opportunity to step outside of your own everyday existence and discover some part of yourself that may rarely (or never) surface in real life,” says Jon A. Sampson. “It’s an opportunity to more fully explore one’s own identity, to have a glimpse — however brief — of life through the eyes of another, very different human being.  Lee is one of those roles.”

Spotlight Theatre presents “True West” at 8 p.m. Jan. 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 1622 19^th St. Admission is $10. For tickets or information, call 634-0692 or visit www.spotlightfound.org.