ALBANY – “Other Desert Cities” is a play about the collateral damage of keeping secrets. It’s a work that stresses the fragility of trust and the need for families to be honest with each other.
The play which is at Capital Repertory Theatre through October 19, concerns a family who unite at the holidays. One of the family members is the daughter Brooke, a woman who recently recovered from a mental breakdown and is about to have her second book published. When her famous parents learn about the material in the family memoir they fear it will ruin their good name and reputations.
Years ago their oldest son became involved with a domestic terrorist group who bombed a building resulting in the death of an innocent man. The father, Lyman, a former movie star was given an ambassadorship by Ronald Reagan and the mother, Polly, was a close friend of Nancy Reagan. Their political connections made the situation scandalous.
The son later committed suicide. Brooke’s memoir suggests the parent’s lack of support for their son was a factor in his suicide. Obviously publishing the book will tear the family apart.
Because “Other Desert Cities” is a work that is essentially about a family on the verge of disintegration, unless the audience has reason to want to family to stay together the two hour – plus play has little purpose. Therefore it is important that the family members are seen as reasonable people who care about each other’s well-being. It is essential that the audience recognizes their love for each other. Without this grounding there is no drama – only conflict.
Conflict is what director Michael Bush demands from his actors. Starting with initial scene the play is filled with tensions and animosity that quickly escalates into shouting. Not only does this leave the actors with nowhere to go emotionally, it portrays the family that genuinely loves each other as dysfunctional to the point of cruelty.
This intensity makes for many dark dramatic moments that give an electric charge to the proceedings. There are indeed times when the drama is so visceral it seems emotionally thrilling. But before long the accusations that are expressed at high volume become wearisome and counter-productive. By the intermission, there is not a character on stage that we care about.
This is a shame because the heart of the play is about the depth of love the parents have for their family. Indeed, when the parent’s sacrifices are finally understood it seems more of a gotcha moment to Brooke than an expression of noble behavior on the part of the parents
The problem is not that the actors always go to the top of their emotional range. The problem is that is the only place they go. It’s as if director Bush gave them the note – “When in doubt shout.” Thus, in the second act when the shouting is deserved, it loses its impact.
This artificial drama hurts the portrayals of a mostly good cast. Though I disagree with Bush’s choices on characterizations, the truth is the performers did excellent work fulfilling his expectations.
Brenny Rabine creates an indulged, self-centered and self-involved Brooke who refuses to grant the opinions of any other family member a modicum of respect. Kevin McGuire’s Lyman is a man in a dilemma and tries to resolve the conflict with reason and affection. Torsten Hillhouse as the youngest son Trip, is engaging as passive man who finds himself in the middle of the drama. And Marcy McGuigan plays Polly’s alcoholic sister for comic effect.
The soul of the play is the mother-daughter relationship and Ellen Parker is marvelous as the controlled and controlling woman who is the target for Brooke’s anger. It’s superior work as Parker shows Polly to be a woman who puts the love in tough love.
Still, though each actor does their job as directed, every single performance is marred by frequent overwrought moments and a heartbreaking climax is muted because it is the first time we see the characters as they really are.
“Other Desert Cities” is an intense work that thrives on heightened emotions. It will engage you but probably not touch you. It’s all played on a phenomenal set designed by Paul Tate dePoo that is enhanced by Michael Giannitti’s lighting.
“Other Desert Cities” at Capital Repertory Theatre through October 19. 445-7469. capitalrep.org
Bob Goepfert is the Arts Editor for the Troy Record.
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