Review: “August: Osage County” – MTC

It is not often that you walk out of the theatre wanting to watch a three-hour performance from the beginning again. It is also not often that you get home from a show at midnight and want to start working on a review immediately. The reason that I am sitting here in the early hours of Sunday morning is MTC’s August: Osage County, Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning family saga set on the hot plains of Oklahoma.

Reading that this epic ‘tragicomedy’ spans over three acts and more than three hours, it can be daunting entering the theatre. This fear is only supported by the play’s large ‘here’s-the-story-so-far’ opening monologue, somewhat reminiscent of Prospero’s speech in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. However, the play soon kicks into gear and you are suddenly on a wild, edge of your seat, journey. The three acts whirlwind by as the story unfolds with its fast punchy humour and completely absorbing narrative. The mix of sitcom humour and melodrama reaches a perfect medium, balancing the most tragic moments with pure comedic timing.

This impressive sense of balance is achieved by an impression of absolute realism and attention to detail that is rarely found on the modern stage. The set consists of a real scale three-storey house made up of seven different rooms in which the action takes place. Fallen autumn leaves surround the perfectly lit set. Ornaments of supposed sentimental value adorn the walls and bookshelves. The food looks as delicious as the actors say it is. You step into the theatre feeling as if you have entered the Weston family home which at first seems comforting, that is until the layers are peeled back revealing a much more dramatic and darker family scenario.

Each of the thirteen actors deserved their role in this fabulous cast. To celebrate all of the casts achievements would take a great deal of time and space, so instead the much-deserved focus will land on Robyn Nevin. Nevin steals the show with her portrayal of Violet Weston, a sharp-witted, unruly, pill-popping grandma. From the very moment the lights come up on the tragically hilarious (or hilariously tragic) Mrs. Weston, you cannot look away. Whether she is swallowing countless pills, dancing to her favourite record, smashing plates or revealing family truths, Nevin’s characterisation does not falter. With Robyn Nevin’s past work in direction for Sydney, Queensland and Melbourne Theatre Companies it is no wonder that Australian theatre is at the level we see today.

 Only two minor faults could be found amongst the absolute brilliance of this performance. The first is that the accents, which alike the rest of the play were specifically detailed (and Leith McPherson, the Vocal and Dialogue Coach, should be congratulated), were often dropped by actors in moments of heightened emotion or intensity whether this be the excitement of marriage or a confession of family tribulations. The second minor criticism of ‘August’ is regarding the acting within the final act, which often appeared exaggerated and melodramatic. As the plot digs deeper and deeper into the insane dilemmas of the family the acting style drifts slowly to something like that of The Bold and the Beautiful. However, this was most likely due to the uncomfortable characteristics of the events and circumstances (no spoilers here folks!) and the highly passionate nature at which that the cast must tackle them. I am sure, as it is only opening week, that both these trivial issues will be smoothed out within the experience of its run.

In one Broadway play’s initial reviews, Charles Isherwood stated in The New York Times:

"It’s theater that continually keeps you hooked with shocks, surprises and delights, although it has a moving, heart-sore core. Watching it is like sitting at home on a rainy night, greedily devouring two, three, four episodes of your favorite series in a row on DVR or DVD. You will leave the [New York] Imperial Theater emotionally wrung out and exhausted from laughing, but you may still find yourself hungry for more.”

In this current production it is still difficult to disagree. MTC’s August: Osage County is a tremendous play executed by a fantastic cast. Book your tickets now.