Writer Brooke Wyeth (Emily Keyishian) has come home after a long hiatus to reveal her new novel to her family. Settled in Palm Springs, with conservative values, the Wyeths harbor a plethora of family secrets. It’s all water under the bridge as they go through the motions of their daily lives, secluded in an affluent neighborhood where they appear indestructible. Brooke’s novel threatens to shatter this peaceful image. And so the drama unfolds, as each member fights to keep their secrets under wraps.
Beneath the surface is a family tragedy, and the individual way they deal with the trauma; coping mechanisms range from substance abuse to denial. The content of Brooke’s novel exposes them. One poignant moment happens between Brooke and Trip (Michah Watterson) as they discuss the likely outcome of publishing, their own personal setbacks, and the pain surrounding the death of their brother. It can be hard to capture sibling chemistry, but Emily Keyishian and Micah Watterson are quite good. Aided by Jon Robin Baitz’s script, the two actors bring an almost wholesome and childlike essence to the moment. It’s an exchange of two confidants that foreshadows the finale.
A gorgeous aspect of this particular production is the fluidity of how the space is utilized by the actors. Bo Golden has built a simple stage that truly showcases the acting, allowing Baitz’s beautiful prose to shine. Tones of tan, purple, and turquoise recreate the lush desert landscape of Palm Springs quite impeccably. John Dunn’s lights fall on the stage like the setting and rising of the desert sun. Pops of color from costuming (Carole Robinson) complete the look and feel of the place. The clothes give character to the circumstances, as well as indicate the status of Wyeths.
The sole pitfall is that the characters are utterly unlikeable. But the given circumstances beg our hearts to want their best, although we are never truly given it. This distaste is haunting; it lingers like the hot desert sun. In that aspect, this production is a slight departure from Baitz’s original play. The original writing is much quirkier than how this production has attempted to translate it. That being said, though, the tragedy presented is quite captivating, and very much worth the investment. There’s a lesson in the lengths we go to please parents at the expense of our own selves: the expectations and the love we aren’t willing to lose, and the need to be seen and heard for our truths. That’s captured very clearly on this stage.
Other Desert Cities is playing at the Danville Village Theatre now through November 4. For more information about the Role Players Ensemble, and to purchase tickets, visit www.roleplayersensemble.com.
