Review of "Other Desert Cities"

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