Reviews have been mixed for Kit Harington and Johnny Flynn in TRUE WEST, Sam Shepard's 1983 play about two warring brothers. They’ve ranged from 4 stars to 1 so your enjoyment may be based in how big a fan you are of the two stars.
I love both of these guys from their starring TV roles, Harrington in GAME OF THRONES & Flynn in GENIUS so I'm still looking forward to seeing, despite sniffy comments from some critics.
The plot concerns a reunion of two brothers after a five year separation in n the suffocating heat of Southern California. Harrington plays an introverted screen writer, Flynn is an anti-social drifter with a tendency to violence.
The celebrated playwright and actor Sam Shepard died in 2017 at the age of 73 from motor neurone disease and this production is intended to commemorate him.
It’s a fine but tricky play to watch and perform as the strong emotions can tip it into a evening of actors yelling at each other.
Harington has been praised for playing against his action man GAME OF THRONES persona to portray the shy intense writer whilst Flynn’s aggressive, dangerous character is a world away from the gentle major Dobbin in VANITY FAIR, his last TV outing.
Opinion is divided as to whether they have sufficient chemistry to convince as brothers and some commentators have bemoaned a lack of depth to their characterisation. But this may be because the theatre is too large for much nuance to register in the cavernous auditorium. So maybe book seats at the front. What a shame this couldn’t have run in an intimate space like The Donmar.
The stars have been directed by Matthew Dunster who’s recently had a critical flop at the Bridge Theatre. He must be hoping for an easier 2019.
Whatever the actors and director bring or don't bring to it TRUE WEST is still a fine play which examines sibling rivalry, the nature of creativity and how we strike a balance between artistic freedom and familial responsibility. It’s a powerful metaphor for America's West, the cowboy way of life and the movie business, so with the current maverick, celebrity president it couldn’t be more topical.
I’d recommend a visit and to encourage you to make up your own mind as to whether these two fine young actors bring this great play to new life.
If you like your theatre bite size with plenty of time to grab a bite to eat afterwards London currently has two new 75 minute chamber musicals on offer which are also full of seasonal cheer and from writers with a good track record of success.