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Hugh Laurie’s House has nothing on Ken Webster’s twisted crackpot.

Ken Webster—with a total of 21 Austin Critics Table and 46 B. Iden Payne awards, and acclaim from both audiences and critics alike—can be seen as nothing short of a Austin theater legend. To celebrate his 30th year in the game, he and the folks at Hyde Park Theatre are bringing back one his favorite productions, the hilarious and poignant one-man show, House (first performed in 2001). Rarely do part and actor come together so fluidly, with Webster taking on the role of the angry, haunted Victor with relish, bringing such earnestness and pain that you’d think Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor had written the part specifically for Webster.

Stuck in a dead end job, pushed around by everyone he’s ever loved, nearing the end of his life, and surrounded by idiots, it’s easy to see why Victor could be such an angry man. When we first meet Victor, he’s regaling us with tales from his days in group therapy sessions, full of such wacky character as Mr. Call Me Joe (but I wouldn’t call him Joe), the girl who hasn’t said anything in three years, and Tom, who’s just plain weird. Victor then relays the story of the terrible, bizarre events of his life that led him to who he is. With these tales, we slowly realize how he could become the nutcase he is today. We are left, however, with the lingering question of how much of what he said honestly happened, and how much is Victor simply playing for sympathy.

The play shifts tone quite often, ranging from hilarious, to depressing, to downright surreal and postmodern. In the wrong hands, this could be a mess, but Webster is truly at the top of his game. Carrying the entire play on his back, without even a director to aid him, Webster pours himself into the role, leaving the audience to wonder where Victor begins and Webster ends, especially when he starts teeing off about acting, awards, and the theater space itself.

At his heart, Victor is an extremely complex character, full of rage, yet, at the same time, hope for something better. Webster does a brilliant job of bringing across this bizarre mix of cynicism and optimism, the bright-eyed hope of Victor’s younger days, and the grizzled violence of the man stuck in therapy, without ever sounding false or disingenuous. Webster truly gives one of the best acting jobs of the year, or perhaps even of his career, and should be rewarded greatly come trophy time.

Whether you’re a regular at Hyde Park Theatre, or if it’s the first time you’ve stepped through its doors, this is one show you simply can’t miss. Even people who dislike one-man shows will find themselves on their feet applauding by show’s end, and leaving the place with tears in their eyes, and sore mouths from smiling so much.


House is playing through May 30 (Thurs-Sat) at Hyde Park Theatre (511 W 43rd St). Showtime is 8pm, tickets are $18, available online here.