Friday, Saturday, Sunday — November 11 – 13, 18 – 20, 7:30 p.m., The Grange
— from Lin McNulty, Actors Theater —
Katie Zwilling as Brooke Wyeth and Indy Zoeller as Trip Wyeth during Other Desert Cities rehearsals at The Grange.
Actors Theater of Orcas Island invites you to take a visit to the Palm Springs desert, and into the home of the Wyeth family as they gather together on Christmas Eve 2004 in an upcoming production of Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz (ABC’s Brothers & Sisters).
Brooke Wyeth returns home after a six-year absence to celebrate Christmas with her parents, her brother, and her aunt. Brooke announces that she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history — a wound they don’t want reopened. In effect, she draws a line in the sand and dares them all to cross it.
Other Desert Cities, directed by Lin McNulty, features outstanding performances by Katie Zwilling (Brooke), Melinda Milligan (Polly), Tom Fiscus (Lyman), Indy Zoeller (Trip), and Suzanne Gropper (Silda). Power, passion, and superbly-crafted dialogue highlights this performance.
“The most richly enjoyable new play for grown-ups that New York has known in many seasons — In his most fully realized play to date, Mr. Baitz makes sure our sympathies keep shifting among the members of the wounded family portrayed here. Every one of them emerges as selfish, loving, cruel, compassionate, irritating, charming, and just possibly heroic — leaves you feeling both moved and gratifyingly sated.” – The New York Times
Other Desert Cities runs Friday through Sunday, November 11-13 & 16-18 at 7:30 p.m. at The Grange. Tickets are $10 and available from Darvills, brownpapertickets.com, and at the door. On opening night, Veterans are free. This may not be suitable for children due to language and content.
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I am not usually one for superlatives, so pardon my gush…
If you want to see exceptionally good ensemble acting, presenting a believable and deeply interesting story, go see this play!
Katie Zwilling has thrown her whole being into bringing the character she portrays to real life, and yet she is but the first among equals.
Suzanne Gropper does controlled histrionics better than most good actors can, and in this case she is not only well controlled, but also charming and appropriately comic.
I’ve watched Indy Zoeller, all the way from what must’ve been his first stage appearance until now, and he has become a smooth and polished actor who does very well indeed in his particularly difficult, demanding role.
We all know that Melinda Milligan is talented, capable, and a solid stage anchor. Her support makes everyone else look good, while she does her own part with effortless grace.
And this time, Melinda’s solid, well-anchored performance was equalled by that of her stage partner, Tom Fiscus, who delivered the family patriarch as if he were truly living the job.
Director Lin McNulty has choreographed her talented cast both physically and emotionally, and she has shown them how to make every second of stage time into an audience grabber.
The story’s arc will suck you into its suspense and unfolding drama. I know that you will end up sitting at full attention, eyes and ears rivetted to this terrifically good play.
It’s one of the best things ever to come to an Orcas Island stage. Go see it!
to this attendee, excellent production in all respects…acting, set, direction, and the play itself…kudos all ’round