Community Player of Concord to Present 'Other Desert Cities'

From the Community Players of Concord: The Community Players of Concord, NH is proud to present Other Desert Cities, a funny and searing drama by Jon Robin Baitz. This smartly written, new American play premiered at Lincoln Center in 2011 before transferring to Broadway for a substantial seven month run. It garnered five Tony nominations, an Outer Critics Circle Award for best new Off-Broadway Play, and was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Jon Robin Baitz is a multi-talented writer and screenwriter, whose credits include TV’s The West Wing, Alias, and Brothers & Sisters, as well as numerous other award-winning works for the stage and screen. Veteran director Wayland Bunnell relishes the chance to direct his very experienced cast in their portrayal of five richly drawn and complex characters in this “witty and deeply enjoyable family drama.” (New York Times).

Other Desert Cities takes place in the upscale Palm Springs home of Lyman and Polly Wyeth, who were highly regarded in old Hollywood circles and admired by Republicans for their service to the party and their friendship with Ron and Nancy Reagan. Their far right political views are not shared by their grown children, Brooke and Trip, who are in town for a rare visit at Christmas time, 2004. Polly's sharp-tongued, ageing hippy sister, Silda Grauman, is also in residence, broke and broken following a stint in rehab. She disdains and resents her sister and brother-in-law’s politics and their almost cloistered lifestyle among their rich and like-minded friends.

There is love in this family, but personal demons and contrasting worldviews make them prone to cleverly humorous but sharp teasing, and as the story unfolds, we begin to realize that this family suffers from some deep-seated troubles. Now, daughter Brooke, a New York writer who struggles with depression, has brought along her soon-to-be published manuscript, which the family learns is not a novel, as they had imagined. Rather, it is a memoir that exposes Brooke’s version of the long held secrets of this prominent and very private family. Brooke wants the family’s approval, but seems determined to publish the book regardless of their opinions. Brooke’s arguments for and her parents’ arguments against publication shred the family’s Christmas Eve and threaten its very survival. What troubles this very dysfunctional family so desperately? And what is the cost of telling the truth? Is it worth the price?

Performances will be staged at the Concord City Auditorium (“the Audi”), 2 Prince Street, Concord, NH, on Friday and Saturday, May 5th and 6th at 7:30 pm, and on Sunday, May 7that 2:00 pm. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, with a $2 per ticket discount for purchases before Wednesday, May 3rd. More information and on-line ticketing are available here. The Audi Box Office hours are Wednesday through Saturday, May 3-6, 4:30–7:30 pm, and Sunday, May 7, noon-2:00 pm. For further ticket information, contact David Murdo at (603) 344-4747, or nhdm40@comcast.net. (Note: Due to adult themes, this show is not recommended for children.)

Notably, this production of Other Desert Cities coincides with and is part of the City of Concord’s “Capital Arts Fest,” a Chamber of Commerce-sponsored celebration in Concord’s newly revitalized downtown, showcasing the Capital Region as an arts and cultural destination. Numerous events, tours, demonstrations and performances will be offered throughout the day and evening of Saturday, May 6th. Hotel specials and discounted bus fares from Boston invite out-of-town visitors to come for the weekend, allowing them to enjoy any one of the three Other Desert Cities performances at the Audi, located just steps from the gold-domed capital building, while taking in many other arts and entertainment opportunities available that weekend.

The Players also reminds audiences that the Concord location of Uno Chicago Grill, one of its season sponsors, is offering its “Dough Raiser” for the Players that weekend. Dine at Uno Friday, Saturday or Sunday, May 5-7, mention the Players’ Dough Raiser, and Uno will donate to the Players an amount equal to up to 20% of the patrons’ bill, including alcohol.

Photos courtesy of the Community Players of Concord: (1) Cast photo, from left to right - Katie Dunn (Brooke Wyeth), Nancy Barry (Polly Wyeth), John Conlon (Lyman Wyeth), Anne Orio (Silda Grauman) and Jeremy Lent (Trip Wyeth); (2) show logo; (3) show graphic with logo; and (4-8) individual character photos