"Queensland Theatre Company and Black Swan State Theatre Company present Other Desert Cities featuring an all-star cast including Robert & Conrad Coleby, Janet Andrewartha, Rebecca Davis and Vivienne Garrett. Christmas in sun-drenched Palm Springs: a desert tomb, populated by shrivelled mummies with tans. The Wyeth children are home for the holidays and conversation doesn't flow easily: politics isn't fit for table talk in a family as fractious as this. Written by Jon Robin Baitz, who created TV drama Brothers & Sisters and wrote episodes of the West Wing; brings all the insecurity, vulnerability and honesty of the family structure to life; circumstances that cause emotions to bubble spectacularly to the surface as the Wyeth family re-unite in a myriad of meltdowns."
To be completely honest, I wasn't excited about going because it sounded a bit too close to my own family situation for comfort, and considering I avoid those sorts of family situations like the plague I didn't think it would be entertaining to sit through someone elses. But - I was offered tickets from two different sources, so I figured The Universe must need me to go for some reason, perhaps to learn something. So we went.
I dressed in my current favourite outfit - black pants, black shirt, vintage cream blazer with no collar. I normally wear black shoes but decided to switch it up at the last minute with beige patent loafers and a beige and black scarf. I know, riveting! (Actually, this has been my fave outfit before the jacket was considered vintage.)
After a quick pasta dinner and a glass of wine (Paleo begone, it's date night!) we got to the theatre and marveled at the beautiful people like country mice. And then, we sat there with our mouths open for the entire performance.
It was just bloody brilliant. Janet Andrewartha was loud, sarcastic, incredibly funny and she was wearing almost exactly the same outfit as me, although wisely she had stuck with the black shoes. Spooky, really. You started off disliking her supposed insensitivity but soon realise the love she has for her children, and the sacrifices she has made. Coleby Snr is perfect as the loving dad who does the best he can to carry on with a lovely life while he carries an ocean of hurt inside. Coleby Jnr at first is the flippant, frivolous spoilt baby of the family, but has the most level head of all. Recovering alcoholic Aunt Silda is hysterical, but we soon learn she has her own agenda. Finally the daughter, the recovering depressive, the walking wounded...she is the one who's attempting to guide the families destiny and this is the point that the play addresses.
It sounds intense and it was - the five ladies next to me where crying at one point. But also, there was laughing, and cheering, and knowing looks. And a lot of raised eyebrows and gobsmacked impressions, especially between Mr BC and myself. We where still talking about it, a week later.
So what did I learn? To be yourself with utmost honesty, and do the absolute best that you can. I also learnt that I do love modern architecture after all, which was a bit of a light bulb moment for me, the traditionalist.
Go see this play if you can. You won't regret it.
xx
