 |
 |
Other Desert Cities Reviews
|
|
|
|
|
| What to Expect: |
| Acting: |
 |
| Music: |
 |
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
|
|
|
| Recommended For: |
|
Adults: |
 |
|
Anyone: |
 |
|
Business Assoc.: |
 |
|
Tourists: |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
wishing it had gone on a bit longer Review by: Tom Bestor, Jun 10, 2012 |
One of the primary requirements of great drama is to have something at stake. Something real, important and true. Something that the characters care about - and, by extension, something we care about. In "Other Desert Cities," now playing at the Booth Theater after a highly-successful off-Broadway run, there's plenty at stake: primarily, the survival of a family (the Wyeths), but also the survival of each character's image of themselves. ... read more As a good parent, as an artist, or as a free and happy "half-boy hipster."
The play takes place mostly in 2004, as the Iraq War was starting to ramp up, and the tension between Polly and Lyman Wyeth (the very Republican parents, played by Stockard Channing and Stacy Keach) and their two children, Brooke (Elizabeth Marvel) and Trip (Matthew Risch) is palpable from the first scene. The stakes (and the tension) only go up when it turns out that Brooke, whose first novel was a big success but who has suffered from writer's block in the years since, has written a memoir of the family, focusing on her long-dead brother, about whom no one has been allowed to speak.
The family (including alcoholic Aunt Silda, played by Judith Light) has gathered in their Palm Springs home (a brilliant set by the virtually-always brilliant John Lee Beatty) for Christmas. Even though they're Jewish. Brooke has flown in from Sag Harbor ("Living on the East Coast has led you to believe sarcasm is both charming and alluring," her mother says), bringing with her the manuscript for her unpublished (but already sold) book. The family assumes it's another novel, but like so many assumptions people make, this is wrong. When the family learns her real plan, everything starts falling apart. But in a good way. At least for the audience.
Telling the truth can be an expensive proposition, and it certainly is for the Wyeth family, at least in terms of their emotions. Stockard Channing is stunning as the matriarch who watches what she feels she's built over decades fall apart in the course of a day or so. Stacy Keach gives a performance that is a great match for Channing. (I loved the bit when his character - a movie star turned politician - shows just how easy it is for him to die convincingly.) Marvel, Light and Risch all do great jobs, as well. In fact, I can't find much to criticize about "Other Desert Cities," other than wishing it had gone on a bit longer. I'd love to see how this family is changed by the revelations made in the shadow of their gold-flocked Christmas tree.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
I don't get it. Review by: joan, Jun 7, 2012 |
| I hated it. I thought the story was unbelievable and uninteresting. The drama is not dramatic it's just people yelling at each other for no good reason. Stockard Channing lays on the Texas accent, but her sister has none. And the rest? Meh. I don't know how it's on the run for a Tony. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
 |
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
Review by: CM, May 29, 2012 |
| The cast elevates the material. The first part of the show was wonderful but i didn't buy the revelations of the second part. Channing, Light and especially Sadowski shine. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
|
| Acting: |
 |
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
 |
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Anyone
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
The real meaning of true grit ! Review by: , Apr 28, 2012 |
What an incredible experience this show is ! A standing
ovation goes to everyone involved as well as many thanks .
It dealt honestly with the problems real families face in
these problematic times we live in. The characters were
portrayed so realistically I almost forgot I was watching a
play and not an actual family sort out their emotions. |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
Well written, Well Acted. Well, That's About It Review by: upthehudson, Apr 23, 2012 |
| Clearly our expectations were just set a bit too high. The glowing reviews and enthusiastic reports from friends had us expecting a modern masterpiece that we would talk about for hours after it ended. But Other Desert Cities is neither as profound nor emotionally wrenching as anticipated. It is simply an interesting story of a Palm Springs family with whom it is nearly impossible to identify. The acting is sturdy by Stockard ... read more Channing and Stacy Keach, Elizabeth Marvel is vulnerable and frantic as their visiting daughter. But the standout performance comes from a seemingly emaciated Judith Light as the recovering alcoholic aunt who lives with the affluent Republican parents. Sometimes funny, sometimes highly dramatic, Other Desert Cities is decent theater that just never made me feel as deeply as did an earlier work by the same author - Three Hotels. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Business Assoc., Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
It was great! Review by: April, Apr 19, 2012 |
I saw this play last night, without any expectations other than a friend
said it was a very good play. I was blown away....acting was exceptional,
and the play itself was truly magnificent. I laughed and got a little
teary at times. Bravo for a wonderful play!!! |
|
|
My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Large Group
|
Recommended for:
Anyone
|
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
Review by: Hairybs, Jan 15, 2012 |
| I read positive buzz on this show and good a discounted ticket...the show was great! Although it is advertized as a drama, it has plenty of funny parts. If you are looking for a smart, adult themed show, go and see this. Judith Light and Stockard Channing are great! |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Business Assoc., Seniors, Tourists
|
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
An entertaining show, well worth seeing Review by: siouxsiedc, Jan 4, 2012 |
| Not sure if the NYTimes is right that this is the best play of the season, but it was certainly absorbing. The actors were all very fine, and their comic timing, and handling of the snappy dialogue, was excellent. My spouse and I talked about the play for the next day or so, so it was thought-provoking, but it did feel as though the effort to tie the events on stage to the Iraq War & the Reagan era was a little forced. Sometimes it reminded us ... read more (not completely favorably) of one of the Albee plays, where family dramas get played out to more profound effect. Still, I paid full price for the tickets and would definitely recommend it. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
Great Acting, Script Lacking Review by: Bill from Long Beach, Nov 9, 2011 |
| This was a mixed bag for me. Rachel Griffiths and Thomas Sadoski as the brother and sister especially stood out, but all were great. That being said, the story fell apart for me in the last 20 minutes. It kind of left me going, "Huh?" as certain revelations were unveiled. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Tourists, Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 10 |
Total Yawn Review by: Chubby Theater Goer, Nov 6, 2011 |
| If I wanted to see family members yell and scream at each other I can do that for free - I'd just visit my folks during the holidays. Our drama would make this play totally irrelevant. What's worse is it's about the problems of a very affluent family. Seriously, I don't think their problems can be so bad as a poor family living in the projects struggling to pay rent and put food on the table. Basically, this play is to satisfy the target ... read more Broadway audience which is probably upper middle class Jewish families. There were a lot of Jewish jokes that I didn't get, either. A total snore on Broadway. I'd skip it. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
|
|
|
|
| 11 |
MUST SEE Review by: robin, Oct 26, 2011 |
| One of the most compelling drama's we have ever seen. Totally absorbing about a family' secret that finallly gets disclosed.The cast was so strong including Stockard Channing and Stacy Keach.We saw it in previews but would see it again. |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 12 |
Big Names for Little Play Review by: Carol, Oct 20, 2011 |
| Although the play purports to uncover a deep family secret that threatens to tear the adult children and their parents apart, there is little more than a group of actors who spend the night shouting at one another. I found myself unattached emotionally to anyone but Silda Grauman (Judith Light) almost unrecognizable as the boozy sister of Polly Wyeth (Stockard Channing) and aunt of her ally Brooke (Rachel Griffiths). This ... read more is not a dysfunctional Tennessee Williams family as it lacks character development and evoking audience sympathy for their plight. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 13 |
Tony Nominations Guaranteed Review by: Legs, Jan 14, 2011 |
| This is a uniquely thought-provoking play with amazingly good actors who engage the audience with every word, every nuance of their performances. Not to be missed! |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Business Associate
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
|
