Directed by Kyle Donnelly and written by Jon Robin Baltz, Other
Desert Cities tells the story of the Wyeths, an affluent conservative family
from California who from the outside appear to be perfect, but their hidden
secrets cause tension when daughter Brooke Wyeth returns home to Palm Springs for
the holidays after a six-year absence. Her pending memoir threatens to reopen
wounds from the most painful portion of the family’s history. The cast includes Helen Carey as matriarch
Polly Wyeth (Carey last appeared in Arena's Long Day’s Journey into Night), Larry
Bryggman as patriarch Lyman Wyeth, Emily Donahoe as daughter Brooke Wyeth,
Scott Drummond as son Trip Wyeth, and Martha Hackett as Polly’s sister Silda
Gauman. Carey’s performance as the strong-willed and stubborn Polly was excellent. The profane nature of Trip and the one-liners of recovering alcoholic Silda brought comic relief; however, I thought the character of Brooke was a bit annoying. The plot twist towards the end of the show was unexpected.
Other Desert Cities is the last show of the season at Arena Stage, which runs until May 26 in the Fichlander Stage. Tickets are $40 - $85. Southwest Night will be on May 26 at 7:30pm. Over the summer, One Night with Janis Joplin will return for a seven-week run from June 21 – August 11. Next season will bring the return of Kathleen Turner as well as Bill Pullman. Below is the lineup for the upcoming 2013-14 season:
The Velocity of Autumn
Written by Eric Coble/Directed by Artistic
September 6 – October 20, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater
Love in Afghanistan
World premiere by Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright
October 11 – November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod
Cradle
Tappin’ Thru Life
Created by and starring Maurice Hines/Directed by Jeff
Calhoun
November 15 – December 29. 2013 in the Kreeger Theater
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Based on the screenplay by William Rose
Written by Todd Kreidler/Directed by Kenny Leon
November 29, 2013 – January 5, 2014 in the Fichlander Stage
The Tallest Tree in the Forest
Tectonic Theater Project’s world premiere presentation
Written by Daniel Beaty/Directed by Moisés Kaufman
January 10 – February 16, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater
Mother Courage and her Children
Written by Bertolt Brecht/Directed by Artistic Director
Molly Smith
Starring Academy Award & Tony Award nominee Kathleen
Turner
January 31 – March 9, 2014 in the Fichlander Stage
Camp David
World premiere vy Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence
Wright/Directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith
March 21 – May 4, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater
Smokey Joe’s Café – The Sounds of Leiber and Stoller
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller/Directed by Randy
Johnson
April 25 – June 8, 2014 in the Fichlander Stage
Healing Wars
World premiere created and directed by MacArthur “Genius”
Fellow Liz Lerman
Featuring Bill Pullman
June 6 – 29, 2014 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle
Photo taken by Scott Suchman, courtesy of Arena Stage
Photo taken by Scott Suchman, courtesy of Arena Stage
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