Lone Star – Etcetera Theatre, Camden

Writer: James McLure
Director: Daniel Vickers

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

“Small-Town Struggles“

3.5 / 5

Vietnam veteran Roy has been back in his hometown in Texas for two years, still reeling from the memories of the war, and struggling to settle back into small-town life alongside the peers he grew up with, and their lifestyles that have barely changed.

Roy (Johnny Benson) has seen so many things, experienced such routine and learned a lot of discipline. He’s eager to share this all with his carefree brother Ray (Patric Schwaab), but with little success. The pair spend most nights at Angels; the local bar, getting drunk on Lone Star beers and reconnecting after years apart. Ray was (as were many others in their town) able to get an exemption from the war, which mildly frustrates Roy, but his beloved classic car, and seemingly less integral, but still loved wife Elizabeth, helps him get through any frustration he has at the small town lifestyle he left behind. When one of the locals Cletis (Kyle Borg) stumbles out of the bar with a nervous revelation he’s desperate to keep secret from Roy, the responsibility lies with Ray to break the news to his brother as gently, and as sensitively as possible.

McLure’s script is less an open-and-shut narrative and more an enjoyable insight into the relationship of two small-town brothers, drunkenly talking about life, love, lust and everything in between under the starry, moonlit sky. While there are some very funny moments, most notably with Roy talking about his first experience with a woman, or Ray’s nervous quips as he builds up to reveal the secrets that will send Roy’s life crashing down, the beauty in the script lies instead with the brotherhood between the boys, and the small-town struggles they’ve both endured. The addition of Cletis as the outsider who Roy hates, and the catalyst of drama in the latter half of the show is a great way to break up the conversation between the brothers, and add some fresh life into the storyline.

The cast have strong chemistry with eachother, and represent the connection between their characters well. Benson plays the troubled, drunken war vet with brilliant believability; hardened and introspective as he returns to the life he left behind. Schwaab’s Ray is dopey, funny and perfectly apt as the annoying little brother, while Borg’s Cletis shines in the humorously awkward “nerd” character, who’s been pushed around by Roy and guys like him all his life. Together, the trio have great pacing for the comedic moments, while still ensuring the tenderness and intricacies of the relationships between the three characters are still showcased.

Runs until 30th July 2026