True West is a play by the American playwright Sam Shepard, which follows the sibling rivalry between estranged brothers Austin and Lee, who have reconnected. It is set in California, about 20 miles outside of Los Angeles in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, at their mother's home. It is known for its exploration of themes such as family dynamics, identity, and the American Dream. The play revolves around the volatile relationship between two brothers, Lee and Austin, as they navigate their contrasting lifestyles and aspirations while staying in their mother's house.
Shephard's writing in True West is characterized by its raw, gritty realism, as well as its dark humor and psychological depth. The play also deals with the portrayal of sibling rivalry and the complexities of masculinity and is considered a staple of contemporary theater. The play was first produced on Off-Broadway at the The Public Theatre with Tommy Lee Jones and Peter Boyle. It ran at the Steppenwolf Theatre and later transferred off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 1982 with John Malkovich and Gary Sinise. The production was aired on American Playhouse on PBS the following year where it gained a national audience.[1] The play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983.[2]
The play had its Broadway debut in 2000 at the Circle in the Square Theatre with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly receiving a Tony Award for Best Play nomination. It was revived on the West End multiple times and on Broadway in 2018. Some critics consider it the third of the Family Trilogy that includes Curse of the Starving Class (1976) and Buried Child (1979).[3] Others consider it part of a quintet that includes Fool for Love (1983) and A Lie of the Mind (1985).[4]
