Outstanding Theater: "Other Desert Cities"
If you find yourself in NY, and love really excellent theater, "Other Desert Cities" is a must-see. It had great reviews -- but also sounded as though it was going to be yet another march through politically correct banalities of Left=Noble-Truthful, Right=Heartless-Unthinking-Deniers. So I had passed on seeing it.
But "Clybourne Park" - the award-winning play which is supposed to have a real frisson of honesty about race, yet doesn't tell you anything interesting, doesn't develop characters, and has a kitsch ending to attempt faux profundity - disappointed. I was told that "Other Desert Cities" was a far better play in every regard, and so, fully braced for tedious left-wing screeds, went last night.
It is wonderful. Every character evolves with rich nuance, the actors are each perfect for their parts, all marvelously played, and the plot actually goes somewhere quite moving and unexpected.
And for those who are bored to tears of the politically trite, while there are the anti-GOP and Iraq war rants, the author isn't buying into the idea that that one side has a monopoly on virtue and truth, but clearly sees that we are all complex: in the end the liberals have their self-congratulatory hypocrisy and narcissism exposed, and those heartless conservative parents turn out to have more selfless heart and consideration than anyone else on stage.
The theater wasn't completely sold out, and it really should be. So if you are in NY, go see it. It's a treat, a really rewarding evening of what theater should be but so rarely is. Marvelous stuff.
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Outstanding Theater: "Other Desert Cities"
Heather, is this appropriate for teen boys? Ages 13 and 15? My boys and I are looking for a show to see this summer.
Re: Outstanding Theater: "Other Desert Cities"
You know, Heather, I had this exact conversation with someone last week. He said the same thing: this is a truly interesting and balanced play.
Thanks for the tip.
Apr '11
Re: Outstanding Theater: "Other Desert Cities"
Dear Heather,
Great post. Thanks for the recommendation. It is nice to see good recommendations for plays/musicals; I try to research any play before I attend, which is frustratingly difficult at best, but your review makes me want to catch this play. I hope it plays in Los Angeles soon.
On another note, could you give your analysis of this Sunday's Tony nominations, or could you please recommend other worthy plays/musicals from this years offerings. Thank you. I look forward to more of your posts.
May '10
Re: Outstanding Theater: "Other Desert Cities"
muzikgeye,
In 1997 the American Place Theater (off-Broadway, but top notch professionally in every respect) presented Jonathan Reynolds's "Stonewall Jackson's House", which I highly recommend to Ricochet fans of the theater. Not only an ideological tour-de-force, (rare enough!) but a dazzling actor's showcase. Samuel French agency still distributes the text (I think; don't assume it will do so forever if people in university theater departments don't learn what a marvelous play Reynolds wrote). Google it; it's a damn shame it isn't revived more often.
Apr '11
Re: Outstanding Theater: "Other Desert Cities"
Dear Gary Thanks for the great recommendation. It's nice to know besides David Mamet's plays, there are at least 2 more plays that will be both thought provoking and entertaining, and no hold my breath waiting for the extreme left axe to fall moments, for me to appreciate.