Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: 1 (Oberon Modern Plays) - Softcover

'Jethro Compton writes and directs this string of well-loved tropes which stays just on the safe side of pastiche, and makes a compelling cowboy tale set out on the edge of civilisation, where the gun is law, the whiskey is copious but dreadful, and all's fair in a fair fight'. Exeunt Magazine ' - a genuinely gripping drama and one I warmly recommend'. Charles Spencer, Telegraph 'Compton brings out the humour in his script as well as building up its melodramatic moments to create a lively entertainment that is engagingly presented'. British Theatre Guide 'Compton's adaptation - treads the right side of the line between loving homage and cliche.' - Younger Theatre 'Jethro Compton's production never tries to emulate the film but boldly treads its own path by using the original tale as a launch pad for a highly atmospheric, visceral and triumphant adaptation that audaciously takes an unfashionable genre and makes it resonate loud and clear.' - Stage 'Compton's script contains much natural humour, but never veers towards comedy and he shows good judgement in ensuring that sequences which could have been risible occur offstage or in darkness.' - Public Reviews

'They travelled west for gold, hope and liberty. Liberty's exactly what they're gonna get.' Journey into the Wild West, 1890, in this classic story of good versus evil, of law versus the gun, of one man versus Liberty Valance. A tale of love, hope and revenge set against the vicious backdrop of a lawless society. When a young scholar from New York City travels west in search of a new life he arrives beaten and half-dead on the dusty streets of Twotrees. Rescued from the plains, the town soon becomes his home as he finds the love of a local girl. This love gives him purpose in a broken land, but is it enough to save him from the vicious outlaw who wants him dead? He must make the choice: to turn and run or to stand for what he believes, to live or to fight - to become the man who shot Liberty Valance.