Olympic Theatre Arts' next production, Sam Shepard's "True West," is a play for mature audiences about two brothers, Austin, an aspiring screenwriter, played by Patrick Irwin, and Lee, a thief and alcoholic, played by Loren Johnson.

Austin is living at his mother's house while she is away in Alaska. He has set up an interview with a Hollywood producer, Saul Kimmer, played by Ric Munhall. However, Lee shows up and convinces Kimmer to produce his absurd story idea instead.

Thus begins each brother's descent into alcoholism and aspiration.

"On one hand, it is very realistic but then absurd," Johnson said. "It's funny, then terrifying. It's a dualist play and dynamic."

Added Irwin, "It's typical of Sam Shepard's plays, with his subjects' family dysfunction, alcoholism and the Southwest.

"It's about two brothers not being able to escape each other."

The two "brothers" have been practicing their performance for six weeks.

"They are doing a fantastic job as brothers and actors," said Jayna Orchard, who plays the mother.

This will be OTA's first production of a Shepard play. Paul W. Thompson designed the sets for "True West" with costumes by Sue Rhein.