A  Play By Sam Shepard
Directed by Ceil Herman
Produced by OCTS
Lighting Design and Technical Direction by Peter Herman
Assistant Director, Tara O'Keeffe

Cowboy Mouth was presented it the Hershel Zohn Attic Theatre,  June 25-27, 1999 with the following cast and crew:

Anthony Perotta and Nancy Chapellier	Anthony Perotta and Nancy Chapellier

Nancy Chapellier	Anthony Perotta	Anthony Perotta and Marco Naylor
Nancy Chapellier  and Anthony Perrotta	Nancy Chapellier  and Marco Naylor	Nancy Chapellier,  Marco Naylor and  Anthony Perotta

Marco Naylor, Nancy Chapellier  and Anthony Perrotta	Nancy Chapellier  and Anthony Perrotta
Nancy Chapellier,  Marco Naylor and  Anthony Perotta	Nancy Chapellier

C-8 SUN-NEWS, Friday, June 25, 1999

Cheryl Thornburg

Sun-News

If you like your theater a little on the dark side, a dedicated group of theater enthusiasts have resurrected one of Sam Shepard's lesser known plays that is thought-provoking, at time's uncomfortable, but riveting theater. "Cowboy Mouth" a one act play by Sam Shepard and Patti Smith runs this weekend in the aptly named Attic Theater above Hershel Zohn Theatre on the New- Mexico State University campus.

Director Ceil Herman sums up the play well in her program notes:

"Cowboy Mouth is an autobiographical play Sam Shepard left his wife and small son and moved in with Patti Smith in 1970. Together they co-wrote and played the original roles of Slim and Cavale in a production which was to be performed at The American Place Theatre in 1971. Shepard's wife, 0-Lan Shepard, was in the co-piece, "Back Bog Beast Bait", creating what must have been an uncomfortable situation. After the first preview, Shepard disappeared and the play never opened. The play was written at the time that Shepard wanted to be a rock and roll star rather than a playwright and was experimenting with the inclusion of live music in his plays. Live music for this production was developed from recordings of Patti Smith, as did the Swedish production in 1986.

Additionally the preshow contains music of many rock stars who died in the late 60s and 70s, including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Bryan Jones, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, both to commemorate their memory and because their music was an important influence for Patti Smith."

The characters are complex, intense and at times disturbing. Nancy Chapellier, who is best known for comedic and musical roles at Las Cruces Community theater, shows that she is an actress who can handle serious roles as well. As Cavale, the Patti Smith character, who is obsessed with death and frequently flips into period of bizarre fantasy, Chapellier delivers a performance that is intimate and powerful.

Anthony Perrotta, who founded Minor characters, a local professional improv troupe, also shows his versatility as the Shepard character, Slim. Perrotta switches easily from anger and anguish to child-like joy in some scenes. The roller coaster juxtaposition of such emotions is a key element of the play. The third member of the cast has a real challenge. Marco Naylor spends the bulk of the play in a sweltering costume as Lobsterman. He manages to give this character personality and emotion, rather than looking like a giant stuffed animal that's come to life.

This play is not for everyone and it is definitely for mature audiences. It is replete with four letter words and has some sexual overtones as well as disturbing themes.

It is an up close and personal portrait of two very talented, but unstable people that many people will find uncomfortable. For those who like alternative theater, however, this is a show that should touch some nerves.

It will be performed at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday with an additional midnight show on Saturday June 26, in the Hershel Zohn Attic Theatre. The theater seats about 50 people. The play is approximately one hour long.

The production is sponsored by the Opportunities For Creative Theatre Students of the Department of Theatre Arts.  There is no admission charge but donations are appreciated. For information call 524-0712