Written by orange• September 9, 2025• 3:44 pm• Curtis Theatre, Review, Stagestheatre, Theater, Uncategorized

STAGEStheatre presents : August: Osage County @ Curtis Theatre in Brea – Review

Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad

Written by Zack Johnston

How far is one willing to go for the sake of love, and how far is one willing to go in spite of it? For the characters in August: Osage County, it’s a question that yields at least a dozen different answers, but perhaps none that will satisfy.

Tracy Letts’ award-winning masterpiece is now playing at the Curtis Theatre in partnership with STAGEStheatre. Fans of the 2013 film will remember the star-studded drama and Meryl Streep’s iconic portrayal of Violet Weston. This new production, directed by Amanda DeMaio, stands on its own as an astonishing piece of live theatre, ready to captivate any viewer who is ready to go along for the ride.

The beautiful lights of the Brea Civic Center welcome theatergoers for what will be—admittedly—a long night of entertainment. The inevitable murmurs of the lengthy runtime and double intermissions can be heard throughout the venue, but this is not just a show for the melancholic drama wonks. The raw emotion in this must-see production will strike a chord with any viewer, and the gripping performance is bar none.

Story:

A devastatingly dark comedy set in rural Oklahoma, August: Osage County is a profoundly moving story of decaying trust within relationships, and what that does to the people involved. It’s an examination into the American psyche through the lens of one family’s experience confronting trauma and difficult truths within their past and present.

The characters are acutely aware of their faults, sometimes even displaying them proudly, but even in the most vulnerable of circumstances, they still can’t move past their self-destructive tendencies.

Acting:

Rose London is incredibly formidable as Violet Weston, the brazen and self-serving matriarch to three daughters reluctantly coming to her side in a time of crisis. Playing a character known for not mincing words, London’s performance unfolds like a carefully crafted symphony developing into a powerful crescendo. Through her fearless performance, London is able to lean into the nuances of her character as her house of cards slowly collapses into her.

In her Curtis Theatre debut, Stacy Castiglione delivers a remarkably dynamic performance as Barbara Fordham, the family’s eldest sister, who possesses an ironclad sense of will. Castiglione displays an undeniable skill for dramatic comedy as her character navigates the treacherous terrain that is her family home. Her energy and command of the stage are unrelenting as the characters all grapple with emerging turmoils and look to Barbara for a sense of clarity.

Each member of the cast delivers a unique and outstanding performance, and as a whole, comes together to create a wonderful sense of chaotic sincerity always found in this kind of dysfunctional family drama.