Glen Ellyn Village Theatre Guild Exposes Family Drama Opening Jan 17
Opening January 17th, Glen Ellyn's Village Theatre Guild presents “Other Desert Cities,” by celebrated playwright, screenwriter, and producer Jon Robin Baitz. The acclaimed Broadway play was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
It's the story of Brooke Wyeth, a family's "black sheep" liberal-minded daughter, who returns home after a six-year absence to celebrate Christmas in Palm Springs with her parents who are members of the conservative establishment. Brooke announces that she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and explosive event in the family's history, a wound which the Wyeths don't want reopened.
A bit of trivia: the play's name refers to a control city guide sign on eastbound Interstate 10 in California, which indicates that the freeway is headed towards Indio, California and Other Desert Cities.
Says director Sue Keenan, a founding member of VTG, “As a theatre person I like plays that entertain me and are very interesting. ‘Other Desert Cities' is in truth a very interesting play.”
“It's a play about family dynamics—I always find it amazing that families can differ so much in their memories of growing up in the same household. This play is smart and engaging. It's about a clash of generations with different political views, and a family secret.”
“This is not what you call betrayal,” says Keenan of Brooke Wyeth's decision to publish the memoir. “The conflict revolves around a family secret and who has or has not the right to divulge it. Nor is it a political play. Politics are a small part of it. It is a play about a family dealing with the past and future.”
Keenan talks about her secrets to a successful production: “Cast it well! Do your homework and know the play backward and forward. A good script, good actors and good crews who all believe in the project can bring out the magic. As a director, I hope I can create the atmosphere where this can happen.”
The cast comes to VTG from an assortment of the western suburbs. Lyman is played by John Vinopal of Arlington Heights, Polly by Susan Carr of Winfield, Brooke by Debra Ruzicka of Palatine, Silda by Dianne Wawrzyniak of Rolling Meadows, Trip by Kevin Taylor of Willow Springs. Maggie Fredricks of Glen Ellyn is producing. Fredricks points out that she and Keenan have teamed up for several other shows including “Love Song,” “The Dining Room,” and “Dinner with Friends.”
“Other Desert Cities” plays Fridays and Saturdays Jan 17th through Feb 8th at 8:00 pm with Sun matinees Jan 26th and Feb 2nd at 3:00 pm. For tickets ($18) and information call 630-469-8230 or visit www.villagetheatreguild.org. The Village Theatre Guild can be found northwest at the intersection of Park Blvd. and Butterfield Rd. in Glen Ellyn.