August: Osage County

By Amalia Queller

Have you ever…thought that your family was crazy?


August: Osage County shows a dysfunctional family dealing with drug use, incest, infidelity and death. Even if your family hasn’t experienced any of these issues, you will still be able to relate to the characters–whether as the granddaughter sneaking out of the house to smoke pot or the home health aid caught in the middle of another family’s conflicts. All of the drama (and there is a lot of it) takes place under one roof, a hot house on the plains of Oklahoma–important not only as a location, but also as a state of mind.

All of the actors deliver compelling performances, especially Estelle Parsons. She plays Violet, the controlling and pill-popping grandmother at the helm of the family, who is able to manipulate her relatives through guilt and aggression, which only causes pain to everyone in her path.

As the family problems and secrets come to the surface, some relationships grow stronger while others are lost forever. After seeing this play, I felt grateful for the simpler dysfunction of my family.
How to see the show: $29.50 student rush tickets with ID • Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St. Visit www.augustonbroadway.com for schedule and more information.