True West

By: Sam Shepard

Narrated by: Kit Harington, Johnny Flynn

Length: 1 hr and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

Kit Harington (Games of Thrones) and Johnny Flynn (Beast) smolder and burn as sparring brothers in Sam Shepard’s darkly comic 1980 drama. The Cain and Abel conflict is a showdown of sibling rivalry, to be sure, but also bears witness to a legacy of booze-fueled family brawls. As Harington and Flynn duel it out, they bring a cagey, wiry energy to director Matthew Dunster’s West End revival of this Pulitzer Prize finalist. The portrait of the estranged pair is a riveting study in contrasts as Harington’s successful screenwriter and Flynn’s scheming grifter explosively collide in the California desert. The scorched, arid setting is more than just a backdrop; its expanse and emptiness make it a palpable presence in a play about wounded masculinity and broken dreams. 

The live theatre production of True West was performed at the Vaudeville Theatre in London, United Kingdom, in 2019. It was produced by Joseph Smith and John Brant for Smith & Brant Theatricals and James Bierman for Empire Street Productions.   

Portions of this audio drama contain mature language and themes. Listener discretion is advised.  

©2019 Sam Shepard (P)2019 AO Media LLC

Screenwriters, golf and brother's hate

This theatre production include swearing, violence, and discussions on alcoholism. It you have an issue with any of that it may not be for you.

The story is two brothers who are catching up after a long time being separate. They have never got along and a lot of the problems and history boil to the surface here. One of the brothers is a success, currently house sitting for their mother, while working on a screenplay. When the other brother, generally a failure and criminal, starts interfering with the screen play and with the sale to a movie company the tension between the brothers rise quickly.

The story is interesting and intense. The tensions and hate between the two flies off the page. I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what was happening next.

However, it also doesn't lend itself to audio only in places. There are sometimes gaps in audio when they are following stage movements, and so what is happening isn't clear. Other times there are things they are doing that isn't exactly clear because it's not in the dialogue. The sound effects help, but not fully. Visuals would help significantly. It''s not that you can't follow the story without visuals, it's just it's not always clear.

The acting by Harington, Flynn and others is really great. It is extremely well performed and the characters come to life. The emotions - the hate, disgust, excitement, anger etc. felt by the brothers is clear and palpable. It is extremely well acted.

The levels on the audio are not mixed great. Between scenes there is much, but it is mixed at a higher level than the other parts. After the first scene there is a really loud, booming, foreboding horn played. As it was the first time it really took me by surprise and actually hurt a little. Other times it is high energy exciting. But every time it is loud.

Personally I wasn't a fan of the sound production. There is also a huge 'wall of sound' to the whole production. Crickets in the background for entire scenes, type writer noise or other background noise and music.

This would be a play I would love to actually see on stage. As an audio only production, it is really good but not amazing.

[If you enjoy this review please check out my other reviews. I review a lot of small press and indie books - support the small guys and you may find something new you will love]

Horrible

This performance was truly, deeply horrible! The book was free but I resent waisting one of my free choices on this book.
The acting was so bad that I couldn't get past the first 20 minutes. I knew after the first minute that I was in for some really bad voice acting but, I hoped that the story would compensate. IT DIDN'T. Don't get this audio book...even for free!

The narration have me a headache

I might have enjoyed hearing this story if it wasn’t screamed in such an over the top fashion. I couldn’t wait for it to end, and when it did I was disappointed with the conclusion.

like terrible community theater

The story line is awful. the characters are cheesy. the acting was mediocre at best. definitely not something I would recommend

what the heck was that?

that was odd and awkward. a waste of a free credit and I have a pretty open mind for audiobooks. this is the first free book that i actually HATED.

Y I K E S

A massacre of Shepard’s work. The American accents were so bad, I had to turn it off at 1:24.
Even though this was free this month, I overpaid...

Meh

It was well performed. but really too much yelling. no need to be so extravagant with the over the top screaming all the time. it other then that it wasn't bad.

Awesome if you are into lots of yelling

I only made it halfway through. It was like being a bartender in a noisy bar and being forced to listen to drunk men yell at each other, in hopes of maybe getting a tip at the end. It wasn't worth waiting for the tip.

Whiny with lots of yelling and overacting

I thought I'd like it more with Kit Harrington and Sam Shepard but it was pretty dreadful. The story overflowed with angst and was a red hot mess. It resembled a dysfunctional Thanksgiving with too much cheap booze and no pie.

I'm glad that was free

That was probably the dumbest thing I think I have ever listened to. An episode of Sponge Bob has more intelligent than that. The actors did a really good job portraying idiots though.

Family feud with grit and wit.

Would love to see live but this is the next best thing. Brill thanks 😁

Love True West

Saw the play 7 times, love the audible was fun to listen to and imagine the actors on stage

Brothers at War

An unusual choice for Audible as this is a cast recording of an excellent but very visible production of Sam Shepherd's curious play performed recently at the Vaudeville Theatre in London. Great work by the two leads, Kit Harrington and Johnny Flynn. A must for anyone studying contemporary American drama - a bit of a puzzle for anyone who has not seen or read the play

Intense bristling with a kinder box for frustration

An interesting insight into sibling relationships. I don’t normally like historical or novel not set in the 20th Century, but the superb acting and excellent American accents took me to the heart of this story in the heart of the Midwest. Primarily a two handset by all accounts with 2 other character who appear briefly. The underlying tension and frustration with the bothers is palpable. A good listen for a rainy aft

Incredible

All I can say I was captivated from
Start to finish. Incredible performances from Kit and Johnny highly recommended.