TRUE WEST Reviews

Roundabout’s production of True West, directed by James Macdonald and starring Ethan Hawke & Paul Dano, opens tonight! Figured I’d put up a reviews thread. Not sure what to expect for this one.

Updated On: 1/24/19 at 06:43 PM

Oh gosh, right after I posted this, I realized how pointless it was because BWW compiles them anyway.

Seems like the consensus is that it’s a production that 1) doesn't really bring anything new to the material 2) features a stiff performance from Dano and a rather fine performance from Hawke (although he sometimes overdoes it). Pretty much exactly the way I felt after seeing the first preview.

Updated On: 1/25/19 at 12:14 AM

I went into the American Airlines Theatre this afternoon blind as a bat and just expecting another typical slow-paced Roundabout production. Boy was I wrong. True West is a crackling, bizarre, dark, and hilarious piece of theatre, and this production is in tip top shape from the superb acting to the great design and everything in between.

Ethan Hawke and Paul Dano are sensational. Their chemistry is electric and is what ultimately makes the show so successful. It’s always fun to watch stars really sink their teeth into their characters and the material they are working with. They are both thrilling beyond words.

The set is deceivingly simple and serviceable throughout the first act, but that changes during the second act, and there are a few surprises that are quite neat. I loved the lighting and how it subtlety changed to tell you what time of day it is. The neon border around the set that lit up during transitions/ blackouts between acts was jarring, but appropriate.

The play itself is rather odd, and it will definitely not be everyone’s cup of tea. The first act flew by (it’s only about 50 minutes), but the second act did feel a bit long and a tad slow at times. The balance of humor and drama in the text of the play are handled effortlessly by the actors.

This is definitely one of the bigger surprises of the season so far for me. It’s leagues better than most of the other snoozefests Roundabout usually puts up at the American Airlines!

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