As the beach-blond family sprawls out and discusses play and politics in its Southern Californian home, one could easily confuse the Wyeths with Hollywood royalty like the Kennedys or Kardashians. And like other high-profile clans, the Wyeths have a cache of secrets too. Secrets that threaten to expose decades-old traumas and irrevocably change this family forever.
Gainesville’s Hippodrome Theatre has produced cutting-edge plays throughout its 40 years. It’s latest production, “Other Desert Cities,” is no exception.
Set in sunny, swanky Palm Springs, Calif., “Other Desert Cities” follows a recent Wyeth family Christmas gathering. What starts as common pleasantries and witty banter between a mother, father and their two children soon transcends into a full-blown war when word gets out about a tell-all memoir. “Other Desert Cities,” by Jon Robin Baitz, premiered on Broadway in 2011 and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress (Judith Light) and the Drama League Award for Best New Play.
Laughter soon developed into audible gasps during the past weekend’s production of “Other Desert Cities.” Directed to perfection by Tim Altmeyer, each actor created a completely nuanced character overabundant in comical idiosyncrasies and dark skeletons.
As depressed writer/daughter Brooke Wyeth, Michelle Bellaver was truly a force to be reckoned with, capturing both the fragility and fierceness that accompany mental illness. Sara Morsey and Peter Thomasson depicted dynamic duo Polly and Lyman Wyeth with great conviction and emotional believability.
Embodying many of the more light-hearted moments of the show were Matthew Lindsay and Lauren Caldwell. Lindsay, as son Tripp, personified the carefree attitude often associated with Californian surfers while displaying emotional growth as tensions between his sister and parents rose. Resident artistic director of the Hippodrome Theatre, Caldwell stood center stage in this show as Silda Grauman, bringing humor and honesty to the alcoholic aunt who wreaks havoc in the Wyeth home.
Act 1 was filled with biting one-liners and characters constantly one-upping each other to achieve the audience’s laughter, while Act 2 exploded with emotional confrontations as secrets came to light. Despite interruptions by audience chatter and cellphone ringing, a tense air enveloped the theatre as familial conflicts reached increasing heights in each successive scene.
Under the direction of stage manager Lara Maerz, “Other Desert Cities” ran without a hitch. Mihai Ciupe’s scenic design brought the arid look of California to Gainesville with desert tones, striking columns and a floor fire pit.
Hilarious, riveting and utterly entertaining, “Other Desert Cities” is a contemporary play that cannot be missed. “Other Desert Cities” will continue its run at the Hippodrome Theatre until Sept. 23.
