Gammage Goers - Alumnus

AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY

Review by Tenisha Baca

  When you first walk into Gammage Auditorium you are automatically introduced to one of the first characters of the play, and to what I have deemed the “vortex of sorrow”, the Weston house of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  At the center of the “vortex of sorrow” we find Mrs. Violet Weston, the matriarch with the mouth. As Violet Weston, Estelle Parsons, was perfection in one of the most complex and demanding, characters I have ever witnessed on stage.  Watching Estelle Parsons portray Violet was mesmerizing and horrific all at the same time. The monologue that Parsons delivers at the dinner table left the room silent. She embodied an individual who was neurotic, self deprecating, and manipulative all at the same time. I can surround her performance around a plethora of adjectives, but the only word that feels the most appropriate is “ineffable”. If you are a true theater goer, you HAVE to go see Estelle Parsons or else you’ll regret it.

With Violet Weston addressed, let’s move on to the other characters within the show. At the beginning of the show the patriarch of the family is missing, serving as the catalyst that brings the family to the Weston home. This unfortunate event brings the majority of the family back to the Weston home. (Since the family involves quite a few characters, I suggest reviewing the family tree in the playbill before the show.) The audience is introduced to Aunt Mattie Fae (Violet’s sister) and Uncle Charlie (Mattie Fae’s husband).  As Mattie Fae, Libby George delivers a spot on portrayal of the meddling Aunt, who reflects the same piercing sarcasm as Violet. The audience is also introduced to Ivy Weston, the middle daughter of Violet and Beverly. She still lives at home and endures the vicious criticism that Violet relentlessly bestows upon her on a daily basis. As Ivy Weston, Angelica Torn, did a wonderful job portraying a character who desperately wanted a better life and whose performance made my heart ache towards the end of the production. The audience was then introduced to Barbara (the eldest Weston daughter), her husband Bill, and their daughter Jean, who bring with them a whirlwind of issues. As Barbara, Shannon Cochran did a phenomenal job portraying a daughter  whose life was unfolding before her, and who slowly but surely started reflecting the same dark cynicism and instability her mother reflected. Mrs. Cochran’s comedic timing was also impeccable. Later on in the production the audience is finally introduced to the youngest of the three daughters Karen, and her fiancée Bill. As Karen, Amy Warren, did an excellent job portraying the comic relief of the show as the quirky, quarky, sister who lived in Florida. Each key player held their own, and delivered stellar performances across the board.

The coming together of this unstable family, opens a pandora’s box of secrets and addresses some themes within the show, especially the replacement of the “All American Family” with the “Modern Day Family”.  In our society, families should be as loving as the Brady Bunch but are more reflective of Roseanne Connet family.   Every member has their role and should follow the paradigm associated with it because that’s the way it’s supposed to be, and I found myself holding some of these characters to those ideals of unconditional love and trust. The idea of family is bleak in this show. Ivy Weston sees family as just cells and genes, and that there is no sense of obligation to anyone. No one has anyone that they can rely on in the Weston family. This creates an overwhelming sense of loneliness, hopelessness, and mistrust, forcing them to escape their situations through alcohol, drugs, or relationships to fill the emptiness.

Watching this drama unfold, my jaw dropped a little bit lower as each layer within this family dynamic was peeled away ever so slowly. The script was just as impactful as the performances. Tracy Letts is an amazing playwright who utilizes the land of rhetoric as his playground. The dialogue was tragically poetic, and was wonderful to experience. I am a fan, and can’t wait to see more of his work.This overall production was phenomenal. This is a must see. Time flew by, and the audience is definitely rewarded in the end.