Connector Editor
“Dissipation is actually much worse than cataclysm.” These are the words that best encapsulate the message of “August: Osage County,” a play that was put on by the UMass Lowell Theater Arts Program this past week. People may fear and loathe destruction, which comes in an instant and leaves its scars for years to come, but it is the slow rotting away of everything you once held dear that hurts even more. While this slow-burn collapse may be the unfortunate fate of the Weston family, it certainly is not the case for this performance, which more than succeeded at bringing the play to life.
The story of “August: Osage County” is simple but nuanced: a week after hiring a housekeeper to help take care of his wife, Beverly Weston (Jason Norman), patriarch of the Weston family, suddenly disappears. After the news spreads, Beverly’s three daughters, along with their families and all the personal baggage they could bring with them, arrive at the old family house to wait for his return, which seems less and less likely by the day.
Before going any further, one must give proper praise to the set designers for creating an excellent rendition of the Weston family house. The play takes place entirely within the confines of the house, so instead of constantly altering the props on stage to suit the scene, the cast uses a special multi-floor stage to portray the entire house all at once. While I am not certain if it was the cast’s decision to have the multi-level stage or if they were simply working around the way their stage was constructed, it nevertheless gave the show an incredible sense of place.
That said, the best set in the world would be easily forgotten without great actors to fill it, and in this respect “August: Osage County” does not disappoint. The entire cast does a stellar job bringing their respective characters to life, from Samantha Craig’s portrayal of the supportive yet bitter Mattie Fae to Patrick Garrigan’s role as the disgustingly slimy yet weirdly likeable Steve Heidebreet. Stephanie Maheu, in particular, was a delight to watch as arguable main character Barbara Fordman, easily making the character her own and giving a surprisingly nuanced performance that kept the role from slipping into stereotypical “straight woman in the madhouse” territory. The standout of the cast though is without question Alexis Tucker as Beverly’s wife Violet Weston, who utterly steals the show with her sarcastic wit, intense world-weariness and downright inspiring attention to character that fully brought out the tragedy of the woman who simultaneously suffers the most from Beverly’s absence and is the most to blame for it. She goes to some incredibly dark places by the play’s end and Tucker does not miss a beat on the way there.
I really do not think I have given the cast and crew of “August: Osage County” the praise that they deserve. There are so many things I want to give more praise to, from the excellent costume and make-up work for all the central characters, the stuttering and line interruptions added in that add a greater feeling of authenticity to the conversations, to even the actors interacting in the background after leaving their respective scenes, there is very little about this performance that I did not absolutely love. I sincerely wish this article could be printed earlier so I could urge anyone who can to see it, but the best I can give is a genuine job well done to everyone involved and a plea to see the next Theater Arts show, whenever it may be. If nothing else, I certainly will be attending.
