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SALISBURY, MD--With a similar bruising wit that defined TV’s Archie Bunker, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard pens an American family portrait in True West that is darkly ironic, grotesquely funny and far from ideal. 

Dr. T. Paul Pfeiffer directs Salisbury University’s production of True West.  Performances are in Fulton Hall Theatre Thursdays - Saturdays, October 18-20 and October 25-27, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday - Sundays, October 20 - 21 and 27 - 28. 

During his 30-year writing career, Shepard has shown a fixation with the fragility of family.  True West implodes with bitter envy between two combative brothers.  Austin, a family man and struggling Hollywood screenwriter, and Lee, a wayward drunk who has a propensity to commit petty crime, reunite after several years apart.  Daily Variety, reviewing last year’s smash Broadway revival said, “By the play’s end they’ve merged into a single, self-destructive entity, a mad dog chasing its own tail.” 

After stumbling at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater in 1980, True West established itself in 1982-1983 with a John Malkovich and Gary Sinise team playing the leads.  Due in part to its simple kitchen setting and small cast allowing for ease of staging, True West is now wildly considered Shepard’s most popular and accessible play within a body of work that is notably strange and often surreal.  

In Broadway’s hit version starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly the actors alternated in the characters of Austin and Lee each night.  Pfeiffer says his two lead actors will do likewise.  “We hope people will be intrigued by the challenge,” said Pfeiffer.  “It’s difficult enough to develop one character but now the actors will have to learn two complex characters. This kitchen really is a battleground so it will be difficult work but the audience will get to see what each actor can bring to each role.”                    

Matt Barnes and Justin Heubner will switch as Austin and Lee.  Gregg Pica will play the movie producer, Saul, and Flo Vickers, a local teacher, will play the mother.  Set desing is by Gerry Patt and Sound and Lightening design is by Dave Shuhl.  Tickets are $8 for general admission and $6 for seniors and children.  SU ID cardholders are admitted free. For reservation call the Theatre Box Office at 410-543-6228.