Trigger Warning: Drug addiction, suicide, sexual assault
August: Osage County, Tracy Letts’ award-winning play is a co-production between Black Swan State Theatre Company and Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre where it had a successful run last year.
Set in the small American town of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, it’s the story of the Weston Family.
When alcoholic patriarch Beverley disappears, his wife Violet, herself an opiate addict, summons her three daughters and sister for support. This family have been apart for many years, and arriving with their families, a sequence of events
unravels long buried secrets and tensions.
This is a story of addiction and generational trauma, and while hilarious at times, it will leave you heartbroken.
The cast is outstanding, together delivering a brilliant performance that’s rich, deep and at times simply breathtaking. Some of the original Sydney cast have come overfor this season, with Pamela Rabe as Matriarch Violet and Bert LaBonte as Bill Fordham. Hayley McElhinney plays daughter Barbara, who is outstanding; the toxic power struggles between her character and Rabe’s is dynamic.
Performed over three acts, the dinner scene of act two is by far the most outstanding moment. The incredible talent of this cast are on full display as the actors never miss a beat throughout and bring comedy and tragedy together in the most delicious way.
As brilliant as the performances are, this show runs for just over three hours, with two intermissions. Act three is slow and could use some tightening up to keep the energy of the first two acts going. Having said that, the entire cast are so brilliant that this can all be forgiven.
August: Orange County is running at the Heath Ledger Theatre until 16th March.