Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast Other Desert Cities
All of this might still provide an entertaining afternoon or evening with really sharp acting, but what I saw at toward the end of the run at Asolo Rep is well below that. Lauren Klein as Polly, the mother, does not project a woman of great inner strength who was mentored on how to conduct a public life by none other than Nancy Reagan. Nor does J. Kenneth Campbell's Lyman project the compassion toward his daughter that operates in complete conflict with his need to protect his wife; he just seems to be caught in the middle with little idea what to do. Lucy Lavely and Benjamin Williamson, third year Asolo Conservatory students, are 10 years too young for these roles and neither is able to overcome that. Carolyn Michel, usually one of my favorite actresses in the regular repertory company, is cast a bit against type as Polly's sister Silda, the Linda Lavin role. She draws out the zaniness of the character, her specialty, but is unable to show the weak character who has succumbed to alcoholism, even when she has hitched herself to the wagon several times. Considering the excellent credentials in the bios of Ms. Klein and Mr. Campbell and past work by Ms. Michel, I have to lay a lot of the blame on director Greg Leaming. Yes, the play is a flawed work, but I don't think he has gotten the best work possible out of his cast. The highlight of the entire endeavor is the scenic design by Judy Gailen. My partner, who has the experience to back up his opinion, tells me that the interior is exactly right, but what really blew him away is the backdrop of the mountains outside the home, which captures the beauty of the outskirts of the Palm Springs setting. Costumes by Devon Painter help define the play's time and place, lighting design by Anthony Pearson and sound design by Matthew Parker both get the job done. All in all, I do not think that Other Desert Cities is the hit of Asolo Rep's season, but neither did I hear a lot of negative chatter, so perhaps others do not feel as I do. Asolo Repertory Theater presents Other Desert Citiesin repertoire through February 27, 2014, at the Mertz Theater in the FSU Center. 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. Sarasota, Florida. Box Office (941) 351-8000. For more information visit www.asolorep.org. Cast (in order of appearance) Director: Greg Leaming
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