Trauma: Life In The OK

So what's worse than living in Oklahoma? Living in Oklahoma with a family like the Westons, the center of Tracy Letts' Tony award-winning play August: Osage County. The play opens with Weston patriarch Beverly (who sums up his 30-year marriage at the play's opening saying, "My wife takes pills and...

By Dianna Wray

January 7, 2010

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So what's worse than living in Oklahoma? Living in Oklahoma with a family like the Westons, the center of Tracy Letts' Tony award-winning play August: Osage County. The play opens with Weston patriarch Beverly (who sums up his 30-year marriage at the play's opening saying, "My wife takes pills and I drink. That's the bargain we've struck.") walking off into the night, away from his acid-tongued wife, Violet, never to be seen again. The rest of the show is devoted to depicting the ties that bind and eviscerate as the Westons come home to mourn their presumed-dead father. This is where alcoholism, drug addiction and general good pulpy rot gives over to incest, sexual abuse and the ugly truths that everybody but Violet is willing to overlook--all while still being sharply funny. Are you sold yet? Three hours in a darkened theater with Violet Weston, the pill-popping center of the storm, will make the fact that Aunt Gladys smelled like cooking sherry at Christmas and threw up on the fruitcake seem like nothing. August: Osage County performances take place at AT&T Performing Arts Center Tuesdays through Sundays through January 24. Tickets are $25 to $150. Call 214-880-0202 or visit attpac.org for information.
Tue., Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 15, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 16, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 17, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Tue., Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Jan. 20, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 22, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 23, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 24, 2 p.m., 2010

Dianna Wray

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