“Other Desert Cities” features Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a Broadway revival that opened Sunday night at the Hudson Theatre. The production, directed by John Benjamin Hickey, runs for two and a half hours, with one intermission, but struggles to transcend the limitations of its own premise.
The play, written by Jon Robin Baitz, centers on a family grappling with buried secrets during a Christmas gathering in Palm Springs, California, circa 2004. Brooke, played by Lily Rabe, arrives at her parents' home with a surprise: galleys of her memoir, a work that lays bare the family's dark past. Her parents, Lyman and Polly Wyeth, played by Ed Harris and Louis-Dreyfus, are former close friends of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, adding a layer of political tension to the family dynamic.
Louis-Dreyfus, making her Broadway debut, faces the daunting task of portraying Polly, a character previously brought to life by Stockard Channing. While Louis-Dreyfus possesses the necessary comedic talent, her performance often feels overshadowed by the other actors. The early exchanges crackle with humor, punctuated by lines like, “this water needs vodka for flavor,” but the energy dissipates as the gravity of Brooke's revelations unfolds.
The play takes a darker turn as Brooke reveals the tragic story of her brother, Henry, who died by suicide after joining an extremist group. This revelation is meant to serve as a catalyst for familial confrontation, but the production falters in its execution. Hickey's direction lacks the sharpness needed to maintain tension, allowing the humor to overshadow critical emotional moments.
Allison Janney delivers a standout performance as Aunt Silda, a recovering alcoholic who injects much-needed wit into the proceedings. However, as the narrative shifts to darker themes, her character recedes, much like the rest of the cast, who struggle to maintain a cohesive dynamic. The ensemble appears misaligned; while Rabe commands the stage with intensity, her enthusiasm contrasts sharply with Louis-Dreyfus's more restrained portrayal of Polly.
Joe Keery, known for his role in “Stranger Things,” plays Brooke’s brother Trip with surprising depth. His performance culminates in a second act monologue that reveals his own frustrations with the family. This moment received the only extended applause of the night, a testament to Keery's ability to convey the emotional turmoil beneath his character's comedic facade.
Despite the individual strengths of the cast, the production fails to create a believable family unit. The Wyeths come across as an impressive collection of celebrities rather than a cohesive family grappling with real issues. The interplay between characters often feels forced, with each actor delivering strong lines that rarely translate into genuine connection.
Baitz’s script contains sharp dialogue and engaging twists, yet the revival's delivery leaves much to be desired. Moments that should resonate fall flat under Hickey’s direction. The humor that initially captivates loses its impact as the play shifts toward somber themes, leaving audiences wanting more from what should be a gripping narrative.
Ultimately, “Other Desert Cities” offers glimpses of brilliance but lacks the emotional depth necessary to elevate it beyond a standard revival. The production's inability to fully realize the weight of its themes results in a disjointed experience, where the laughs often overshadow the heart of the story. As the lights dim on this Hollywood-tinged family drama, the audience is left with a sense of what could have been, rather than what was delivered.
According to NY POST.
