Urban Scarecrow

D: Andrew McAllister; with Peter Richards, Charles Leggett, Benjamin P. Garman, Debra Pralle

Stuck in a limbo between city and suburbia, teenage antihero Wesley (Richards) aimlessly explores his environs: a world where boredom translates to huffing, drinking, and other such vagaries. Underneath the surface, as a barely literate high school dropout, Wes’ prospects seem limited. His widowed but affable father, a struggling stand-up comedian, scores high in the love and concern department but struggles as a role model for a kid distancing himself from reality. These longstanding issues remain manageable until Wes’ father Frank (Leggett) offhandedly remarks, “You are walking in a sea of propaganda working on your fears and your desires.” Suddenly the brightly colored signage and light posts littering the landscape take a more ominous character (thanks in part to original music by Ben McAllister), pushing matters to a head – Wes’ head. Before long, the line between escapism and escape disappears. – James Renovitch

10/19, 9:30pm, S.F. Austin; 10/22, 5pm, S.F. Austin

This article appears in October 20 • 2006.

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James graduated from Columbia University in 2000 and moved to Austin a year later. Ever since, he has followed the arts and video game scene in ATX, editing and writing stories for the Chronicle along the way. Over his more than 20 years with the paper he has climbed the "corporate" ladder from lowly intern to managing editor.