Fort Worth's Stage West Scores With Powerful Performances in Its Play, ‘The Father’

The fact that Fort Worth is the home of terrific theater is no longer a well-kept secret. And there is no better example of how good it can be than Stage West, which recently celebrated its 40th birthday by announcing a $3 million upgrade to its building on West Vickery Boulevard.Its regional premiere of The Father: A Tragic Farce is a tour de force for lead actor David Coffee, whose percolating performance about a man facing his final years resonates deeply with anyone who has lived through the trial of a parent's dementia. The director of the Stage West version is Tina Parker, who as an actress has appeared as a recurring character in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.Also noteworthy is lead actress Jessica D. Turner, who, in a poignant performance, appears as the daughter of Coffee's character. Turner is the real-life daughter of R. Gerald Turner, the president of Southern Methodist University, who on opening night was there with his wife (Jessica's mom) and their son-in-law (Jessica's husband).  Continue reading...