Sex Change [Sam Shepard won't allow a cast of women, instead of men, in his play "True West"]

Sex Change

The agent for the playwright Sam Shepard demanded that a production of his play "True West" be shut down after last Sunday's performance because it cast women in the roles of the battling brothers.

"The agreement they signed says that the play has to be performed as written," Judy Boals, the agent, said. "This is a breach of contract."

This week a representative of Samuel French Inc., the publishing house that issued the contract for the play, left a message for Thomas Hays, the producer, saying that it was unacceptable to cast women in the play's male roles.

The Equity production is showing at the Bernie West Theater at Baruch College, on Lexington Avenue near Gramercy Park.

Under fierce pressure, Mr. Hays has not backed down, arguing that his production, while making minor changes to the script like replacing he with she, remains faithful to the play. Mr. Hays consulted his lawyer, he said, and was advised that he should have no trouble unless Samuel French sends a cease-and-desist order in writing, which had not happened by yesterday afternoon.

"True West" was performed on Wednesday night, and Mr. Hays said he planned to finish the run through March 21.

Mr. Shepard, who was in Australia acting in a film and was reportedly upset about the production, has dealt with this issue before. Ms. Boals said that in 1997 he had demanded that a San Francisco production of "True West" cast with women be closed. That show did not close, but did not extend its run because of pressure, said its director, Aida Jones.

Thomas G. Waites, the director of the New York production, said he found the whole situation sad. "Sam Shepard, of all people, who comes from a nontraditional theater background, is hamstringing other people's creativity," he said. "What if we cast two Arabs? Or two Israelis? Does `True West' have to be about two white guys?"

"Sam Shepard, of all people, who comes from a nontraditional theater background, is hamstringing other people's creativity," he said. "What if we cast two Arabs? Or two Israelis? Does `True West' have to be about two white guys?"

LOL....I just found this article somewhat amusing -- especially in light of the on-going controversy about gay marriage. Maybe Sam Shepard is among those outraged by gay marriage? Just wondering...

Sort of like the re-enactment of the Wright Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk earlier this year. They had a female pilot and a male pilot doing the re-enactment. My question: Was she portraying Wilber or Orville?

This pc cram has run amuk.

Yes, I see what you mean.

And, yet, I will bet that Sam Shepard totally supports gay marriage, without understanding why some people are upset, and, without seeing the irony of his support on that issue -- in light of his very traditional position on casting only males in male roles in his plays.

In theory, she beat out two other pilots (both men) for the slot. You will never get a straight answer on the selection process. However, during the short test period, the powers that be wisely thru out the "coin toss" to determine the first pilot, and went with the male pilot, who had more experience and had successfully flew the aircraft, whereas the female had crashed on her only flight!

True West is a great play-- one of my all time favorites. I first saw it on American Playhouse with John Malkovich as the crazy brother.

This play would be STOOOPID cast with females. Men and women are different (duh) in the fundamental ways that make this story important.

I would be outraged if this were my play.

Well, I don't know if I can agree with you about that type of casting rule for theater.

Have you ever heard of the play "Vanities," about three women? Someone once told me that play was originally written for three gay men, but, fearing the public at that time would never accept three gay men in those three catty roles, a decision was made to make the play about three women.

Now, in the current times, maybe "Vanities" with men would be OK.

And, maybe "True West" cast with two women as sisters would be OK. I can't know until I see it.

But, in theater, with its history of having men playing female roles in Shakespeare plays, and its emphasis on understanding that which makes us human, I would not be adverse to seeing a play -- repeat, a play -- with non-traditional casting. It might not work all the time, but, I would not be against it, even if it were my own play.

Consequently, I think Sam Shepard is being very narrow minded here.

As for gay marriage -- I do think "marriage" is for one man and one woman. Period. But, theater is the realm of imagination. It is a little different than society. That is just a fact.

Men and women are different (duh) in the fundamental ways that make this story important.

And, yes, I agree with you here. But, I like True West, too, and perhaps it could work with two sisters. Look at the real life crazy woman who was portrayed in the recent film, "Monster."

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