For the week of June 27 - July 3, 2001

True blue and Bruce

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

If a play were a piece of bread, then playwright Sam Shepard’s work would be "marbled rye," as Rusty Wilson, artistic director of Company of Fools put it. Comedy and tragedy reveal themselves in Shepard’s plays simultaneously.

Chad Smith as Austin and Bruce Willis as Lee in “True West.” Photo by Kirsten Shultz

This is especially valid in "True West," opening July 3 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, directed by and starring Bruce Willis.

The story concerns estranged brothers Austin and Lee. One is a reserved Hollywood scriptwriter, the other a thief and a drifter. Their attempts to deviate from their respective ruts produces a dramatic stalemate, with dire consequences.

"The attraction (to Shepard) is primarily from an acting standpoint," Willis said. Shepard writes characters that are terrifying and kind of menacing. "It’s scary for the actor to try to perform this successfully, but it’s also the most fun to do."

Willis, a Wood River Valley resident and board member of Company of Fools, performed in Company of Fools’ production of "Fool for Love" in 1997.

"True West" is nearly a companion piece to that play. It’s also a play with which Willis is very familiar. Since the play was written and first produced in New York in 1983, he was, he said, too young to play Lee, but he often used it for audition pieces.

His attraction to Shepard is such that Company of Fools is considering doing Shepard’s "Buried Child," winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Obie Award. As for "True West," he said, "I know the play really well and know what my vision of it has always been. We have a great cast."

Co-starring in the production are Chad Smith as Austin, Danielle Kennedy as the mother, and Andrew Alburger as an aggressive movie producer.

Willis has recently finished work on two movies, "Hart’s War" and "Bandits." He is now taking a year off.

"Its a refreshing break from doing films. Theater is so immediate. If you’re funny you get a laugh. If you are successful, you get that communion with the audience both from a story-telling standpoint and from a theatrical experience. It’s like you invite 250 people in, turn off the lights and then light up the stage—hopefully the audience gets transported."

Part of the appeal for Willis is being here at home doing theater and being able to be with his three daughters.

"When I get done working on a film I like coming to Sun Valley and hanging out. If I’m doing theater it’s so much the better."

The show will be presented at the Liberty, Tuesdays through Sundays, with Saturday and Sunday matinees, through July 31.

Advanced sales are going great, but there are lots of tickets left for the later weeks, said Denise Simone, Company of Fools’ associate artistic director.

The cast appears to be forming a family- like bond with the long and intensive rehearsal period.

"Bruce is a creative and demanding director," said Smith. "This is the first time I’ve done six- hour rehearsals every day."

Kennedy concurred and added, "This has been quite a revelation. There are parts of all of us in this. It’s tough, very challenging, but I’m loving it. In the worst of tragedies and family situations, it’s the humor that bails you out. I find myself tapping into the reality of raising sons." Kennedy is the mother of four sons and four daughters.

"It’s great working with these three guys. I feel very honored to be part of it."

Simone is equally enthusiastic, especially since many businesses and restaurants in Hailey have come on board with tie-ins, like a free glass of wine or beer with your ticket stub, having "True West" specials, and staying open a little longer in the evenings.

Tickets are available by calling the box office (578-9122) or at The Mint in Hailey.

"There are hilarious and also very frightening things in it," Willis said. "It’s about family, and the disintegration of family. It’s also the play that Shepard has said is his most complete play and he wouldn’t change a thing about it."

 

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