Herald Sun
Edition 1 - FIRST
FRI 26 APR 2002, Page 085 
Tortured souls the best in the west 
By Chris Boyd 

REVIEWTHEATRE
True West
By: Sam Shepard

Where and when: Victorian Arts Centre, until June 1
Reviewer: Chris Boyd

PLAYWRIGHT Sam Shepard is the great chronicler of the American myth.

He's also the living, breathing embodiment of that myth: he's cowboy, rock 'n' roll drummer, ruggedly handsome actor and 
writer rolled into one.

Shepard has had a couple of kids with glamorous actor Jessica Lange, so he's no slouch in the romance department either.

Not since Arthur Miller wed Marilyn Monroe has a writer met with such envy and admiration.

But the thing that distinguishes Shepard from the Hollywood dream factory and places him firmly in the 20th-century 
American dramatic tradition is his willingness -- make that need -- to write plays full of tears and blood.

According to Shepard, if it ain't personal, it ain't worth doing.

Formally, True West, which dates from 1980, is one of Shepard's least adventurous plays.

There is no fantasy, no sci-fi, no horror. But it is one of his most personal.

It's fairly well accepted now that the two brothers in True West are Shepard's own demons slugging it out for supremacy.

Austin (David Tredinnick) is the intellectual; the preppy and diligent writer of screenplays.

Lee (David Wenham) is the roguish, hard-drinking tearaway, just like their father.

Lee returns to the family home from a spell in the desert to browbeat his younger brother.

When played hard, as in this Melbourne Theatre Company production, the intimidation is difficult to watch.

After half an hour, you want Austin to break a bottle over Lee's head. Anything. Adults shouldn't behave like this.

Malcolm Keith Kay's production takes the split-personality theory one step further. He makes Lee into Austin's muse.

Now that's a way into Shepard's own head.

If, like me, you can't stand by and watch bullying, try to imagine that you're looking into the mind of a tortured writer -- 
because you are.

David Wenham is hugely impressive as Lee. He sounds a bit like Miranda's former boyfriend on TV show Sex and the City, with 
a soft Bronx accent, but it's consistent throughout.

He's imposing, physically. At once hateful and heroic.

Iain Grandage's music is impressive -- varied and evocative -- but less may be more when it comes to underscoring dramatic 
moments. 

Caption:  Wenham
Illus:  Photo
Section:  ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Type:  Theatre Review