Richards countered with a flat delivery of his lines and a lack of variation in his tone when the script called for a change in mood. Both actors failed to do much with the physical outbursts, unable to justify their arrival, which was well justified by the script and the blocking.

It must be said, though, that both Richards and McKnight improved throughout the evening, peaking in the final scene which was deftly handled by all. The payoff of the play was achieved, as the actors rose to the quality demanded by the material, the staging, and the lighting.

Brian Gatten, in his second appearance on the Harvard stage this summer, turned in another splendid performance. In fact, Richards was at his best when playing off of Gatten, as the two displayed some of the only on-stage chemistry.

The entire production was aided by outstanding technical and design aspects. While the work of set designer Pippa Brashear ’01 and light designer, Ryan McGee ’96 were especially praiseworthy, the entire crew deserves credit for an outstanding visual display.

Shepard writes material that actors covet, but that is different than easy-to-execute. If the acting in this production of West does not ultimately ring true, it remains an excellent play with a stylish production that is worth a look, especially for those unfamiliar with the piece.