A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, Mary Moody Northen Theatre, St. Edward's University, November 10 - 20

by Michael Meigs

Sam Shepard wrote and directed A Lie of The Mind off Broadway in 1985. It won awards as best play then and the 2010 New York production won the Lucille Lortel award as best revival.

Musing over the claustrophobic evening with these characters, I recalled Harry Allard's picture book collaboration with James Marshall in the 1970's featuring a charmingly inept cartoon family named The Stupids. A Lie of the Mind is a hard evening with a bunch of no-hopers who might just be hybrids of The Stupids and The Nastys -- Deliverance-style degenerates, except that they're out somewhere in the great American West.

Jake has beaten his wife Beth senseless and believes that he killed her. His brother Frankie leaves the gibbering Jake in the custody of their steel-hearted mother Lorraine and travels to the remote ranch owned by Beth's stupid-nasty parents Baylor and Meg and Beth's stupid-nasty-protective brother Mike. It's the last day of the deer season and daddy Baylor sees a shape sneaking through the woods, so he shoots it. Or rather, him, since it's Frankie, trying to get to the house to make sure that beaten Beth is still alive.

Click to read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Images by Ryan Joy: A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, Capital T Theatre, May 12 - June 4

Images by Ryan Joy, posted at www.capitalt.org:

Capital T

presents

A Lie of the Mind

by Sam Shepard

directed by Mark Pickell

May 12-June 4

Salvage Vanguard Theatre, 2803 Manor Rd. (click for map)

Jake has brutally beaten his wife Beth and left her for dead. Her brain damage is significant. His guilt is crippling. Jake’s brother, Frankie, searches for the truth of Beth’s condition, while Jake’s father haunts him from the urn beneath his childhood bed.

A Lie of the Mind is both a chilling indictment of true love and an affirmation of its abiding ties. Capital T is proud to present this gritty, darkly humorous American drama by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard.

Click to view additional performance images by Ryan Joy at AustinLiveTheatre.com

Upcoming: A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, Capital T Theatre at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre, May 12 - June 4

Found on-line:

Capital T

presents

A Lie of the Mind

by Sam Shepard

directed by Mark Pickell

costume design by Cheryl Painter

sound design by Adam Hilton

May 12-June 4

Salvage Vanguard Theatre, 2803 Manor Rd. (click for map)

Jake has brutally beaten his wife Beth and left her for dead. Her brain damage is significant. His guilt is crippling. Jake’s brother, Frankie, searches for the truth of Beth’s condition, while Jake’s father haunts him from the urn beneath his childhood bed.

A Lie of the Mind is both a chilling indictment of true love and an affirmation of its abiding ties. Capital T is proud to present this gritty, darkly humorous American drama by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam Shepard.

Click to read a bio of playwright Sam Shepard at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Auditions: A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, Capital T Theatre, March 27

UPDATE: Mike Lee interviews director Mark Pickell at KUT's Arts Eclectic spot, May 9 (2 min.)

Received directly from

announces

Auditions for

A LIE OF THE MIND

Capital T Theatre will be holding auditions for its upcoming production of A Lie of the Mind on the morning of Sunday March 27th at Hyde Park Theatre. Rehearsals will begin in early April. The show runs May 12-June 4 at Salvage Vanguard Theatre and will be directed by Mark Pickell. All roles are paid. Some of the roles have been cast, however, there are 4 key roles we are seeking actors for:

Beth – 25-35 Years old female
Jake’s wife who has been brutally beaten by her husband. She is recovering from brain injury, her speech is sometimes nonsensical and slurred. This role requires brief topless nudity

Sally – 25-35 Years old female
Jake’s sister. Mistaken by Jake as Beth at first, she quickly becomes Jake’s only ally in their dysfunctional home.

Mike – 25-40 Years old male
Beth’s brother. Caretaker of Beth during her recovery.

Lorraine 55-70 Years old female
Jake’s Mother. She is more concerned with Jake’s well being than the crime he has committed. Seems to treat her grown son like a child while he recovers from the traumatic incident.

if you are interested in auditioning for any of the roles please send an email to alieofthemind2011@gmail.com including the following info to secure an audition slot:

1. Indicate which role or roles you are interested in auditioning for
2. Resume
3. Headshot or recent photo of yourself.