SHOULD I SEE IT?
What’s the Story of August: Osage County?
August: Osage County is a comedic drama about the Westons, a family who gather together inside their hot, musty old house in Oklahoma on account of their father’s mysterious disappearance. Unfortunately, worrying if their Dad’s alive or dead is the least of their problems. Mom’s a drug addict. Of her three daughters, one is about to elope with an unconventional groom. Another has announced her engagement to a man of questionable values. And Barbara, the eldest sibling, can’t seem to save her crumbling marriage. Still, Barbara does her best to keep her ultra-dysfunctional family in line, until long-hidden truths about the past threaten to damage the Weston home irreparably.
What Is August: Osage County Like?
Although it sounds unbearably depressing on paper, August: Osage County is often laugh-out-loud funny. Its plot twists are dark and nasty, but also completely over-the-top, like those in a soap opera. The show’s also quite long–three hours and twenty minutes, with two intermissions–but with so many fireworks going off onstage, much of it flies by.
Is August: Osage County Good for Kids?
Given that long, long running time and utter lack of kid-friendly eye candy, August: Osage County is sure to bore younger children to no end. As for teens, the play is rife with adult-oriented material: off-color language, repeated drug references and explicit discussions about sex. However, if your teenager is an aspiring actor or drama major, this acclaimed Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning work will offer an unforgettable experience.