Other Desert Cities

Every family has tragedies that they would like to forget. There are skeletons in every closet that we would all prefer never to have dragged into the light. Some of us are able to talk about our feelings and problems related to these tragedies and skeletons and others of us prefer to keep a stoic silence on the subject, to various degrees of success. Jon Robin Baitz has crafted a masterful play that explores the relationships between family, tragedy, success, and those all too familiar skeletons being dragged into the light.

Other Desert Cities concerns the Wyeth Clan, a resilient bunch of folks who have assembled at their Palm Springs home for Christmas. Lyman, a former movie star and former US Ambassador during the Reagan administration, and Polly who has a Nancy Reagan like stand by your man quality to her, are the staunchly republican parents to Brooke, a depressive writer, and Trip, an auteur of trashy reality television. They are joined by their Aunt (Polly's Sister) Silda.

Brooke has borne with her across the country from Long Island a long awaited manuscript for her second novel. The novel turns out to be a memoir that recounts the suicide of the Wyeth's oldest son, who was a weather man style underground activist in the 70s and caused Lyman and Polly great political scandal.

Many bombs are dropped during the evening, and many long held family secrets are brought into the light. Stockard Channing is giving an exceptionally layered and utterly fantastic performance as Polly Wyeth. You can tell that she is the backbone of the family and that she is holding everything together, and that she wields great power within her circle.

She is equally matched by Stacey Keach as Lyman, who at the onset seems to be more background but grows in a dynamic way through out the play. The script is filled with fantastic quips and one liners, as well as thought provoking statements about politics, family, depression, and secrecy.

Judith Light is giving a brave and spectacular performance as aunt Silda Grauman, a former screen writer and recovering alcoholic. Rachel Griffiths in her Broadway debut has given Brooke a passivity that makes her fragile yet aggressive simultaneously. As Trip Wyeth Justin Kirk is funny, charming, and altogether fantastic, even when he isn't speaking.

In my opinion Other Desert Cities is the current front runner for many Tony Awards including Best play, Best Actress, and Best Featured Actress. It currently plays at The Booth theater and is selling tickets through mid June. You can get student tickets day of the show or if you are under 30 you can purchase tickets through Lincoln Centers Linctix program.