Theater Review - "Other Desert Cities"

THEATER REVIEW

“Other Desert Cities”

Produced by: The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur

OTHER DESERT CITIES premiered to critical acclaim at Lincoln Center (earning an ‘Outstanding New Off-Broadway Award’) three years ago—in January, 2011. After its successful limited engagement at The Center’s Mitzi Newhouse Theater, Joe Mantello teamed up with playwright Jon Robin Baitz in directing the drama, and the show made its inevitable Broadway debut at the Booth Theater before year-end.

A number of New York critics (who had seen the play at both locations) were quick to point to the theatrical maturity Other Desert Cities had achieved subsequent to its already notable Lincoln Center production—The Times’ Ben Brantley used terms like “…stronger …sincere …credible.” The American Theater Wing members agreed … and they gave the play five Tony nominations, including ‘Best Play’ (Judith Light won for ‘Best Featured Actress’) and ‘…Desert Cities’ even came within an eyelash of grabbing the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

As if to stress its versatility, Northport’s snazzy John W. Engeman Theater has chosen to mount this work immediately following their lavish production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (winner of Long Island’s ENCORE Award for Best 2013 Play).

It’s difficult to imagine a play that’s a farther cry from the Berlin lighthearted romp than is Other Desert Cities, which opened last Saturday and will run through March 9^th. Granted this drama, too, involves finding a place to celebrate Christmas … California now, as opposed to New England … and sure, ‘…Desert Cities’ has its comedic moments … but that’s where the similarities end. In the new Engeman offering (directed with marvelous pace by Richard T. Dolce) it’s the gripping storyline that impresses.

And what an edge-of-your-seat plot Jon Baitz has given us! It would be surprising indeed, if there’s a middle class family in modern America that hasn’t been touched in one way or another, either by extreme left-right politics … or the alienation of a sibling … or the fear of having an old family secret aired. But all those familiar (often heartbreaking) themes enter into this drama. In Director Dolce’s capable hands, the play attests to the wisdom of author Elizabeth Berg, who famously said, “You are born into your family, and your family is born into you. No returns. No exchanges.”

The five-member cast of this tightly constructed drama comprises the Wyeth Family, Trip, Lyman, Polly, and Brooke—and ultra-liberal Aunt Silda. In such a production (as in plays like The Glass Menagerie for example) everyone must pull their own weight if we are to expect a well-rounded theater experience, and thanks largely to the insight of Casting Director Stephen DeAngelis, that’s exactly what ‘…Desert Cities’ delivers … as the standing ovation after the explosive final scene attests.

While this play revolves around Nancy Lemenager, who early on drops her bombshell as the prodigal novelist Brooke Wyeth, she by no means overshadows veterans Christopher Bolan (Trip, her worldly-wise brother), Phillip Clark (Lyman, the politician father), Joy Franz (her social climbing mother, Polly), and trouper Joan Porter (eccentric Aunt Silda, who in real life has shared film credits with none other than Ernest Borgnine and Carroll O’Connor). And when this sterling quintet is through twisting your emotions, any problems that might exist in your own family should seem trivial by comparison.

Jonathan Collins outdoes himself with an excellent Scenic creation that is pure Palm Springs, while Driscoll Otto, Laura Frey, and Tricia Barasamian supply wholly satisfying Lighting, Sound, and Costume Design respectively. As always, the exquisite Engeman Theater itself rates special mention. It is a Long Island treasure … whose reputation will be enhanced by this gut-wrenching, dramatic grabber.

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Award-winning Smithtown writer Jeb Ladouceur is the author of eight novels, and his theater reviews appear in several major L. I. publications. In Ladouceur’s next thriller, “Cruel Harvest” due in late summer, an American doctor is forced to perform illegal surgeries for a group of vital organ traffickers in The Balkans.

Smithtown's Girls Lacrosse Tournament Raises $10,000

LAX for ME & the GALS event coordinators present Maurer Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hecht with $5000 donation. (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Samantha Vallarella, Hope Lefko, Gina Coletti, Debbie Hecht, Val Manzo, Emily De Marinis.)

By April Zubko

The girls lacrosse tournament LAX for ME & the GALS, held October 27, 2013, raised a total of $10,000, benefitting both the breast cancer non-profit The Maurer Foundation and the girls lacrosse non-profit Girls Athletic League of Smithtown (G.A.L.S.). The two charities teamed up for the second year in a row to promote physical activity in young girls, an important component in both organizations’ missions.

Held at Smithtown High School in St. James, NY this friendly all-day lacrosse competition drew an attendance of approximately 300 people. Each of the 22 teams from New York City to the East End played four games, with winning teams playing in a Championship game for prizes.

Every player got a prize-filled backpack. Funds were raised by registration fees, 50-50 raffles, sale of food and drinks including the Maurer Foundation’s pink and white cookies, vendor contributions, and the sale of t-shirts and other promotional items such as flashlights, lanyards, and rubber wristlets.

South Shore Hurricane coach Pete Montagano said, “I just want to take a moment and thank you for allowing us to participate in such a wonderful event. Today’s tournament was so well organized, exciting and fun for all! My girls had an incredible time, played strong teams, and our families enjoyed a perfect Sunday. Thank you for all the time and energy you put into such a successful day.”

Event Co-Chairs Gina and Rob Coletti, Val Manzo and Emily De Marinis worked with Girls Athletic leaders Billy Smith and Rob Coletti, and students from High School East, led by DECA President Hope Lefko and Samantha Vallarella. Over 30 DECA student volunteers and local Smithtown School Industry Advisory Board adult volunteers met at 6 am to set up the fields for 7 v 7 girls’ lacrosse for players from grade 4 through varsity. DECA student volunteers provided a DJ and many willing hands to keep the event moving along so the players and their families could have fun. The Maurer Foundation staff was also on-hand, educating attendees on breast health.

G.A.L.S. will use the funds raised by the event to promote availability of lacrosse for girls of all ages. The Maurer Foundation will use the funds to advance its breast health education outreach to high school students, community groups and businesses.

“Our goal is to make women aware of the facts regarding breast cancer and early detection, and it is just as important for girls and teens to know about the preventative measures they can take now, such as exercising and getting proper nutrition nutrition,” stated former Maurer Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hecht. “The Foundation was honored to be part of this athletic event, which promoted physical activity–a lifestyle choice known to help reduce the risk of breast cancer.”

Events such as Lax for ME and the G.A.L.S. help bring communities together and provide a fun, family atmosphere that makes a difference by helping others. For those interested in hosting a similar fundraising event, please contact The Maurer Foundation at 631-524-5151 or the Girls Athletic League of Smithtown at 516-456-4672.

Save A Life & Give To The Maurer Foundation

With your tax-deductible donation, we can continue to provide life-saving breast health education programs to high schools, colleges, and businesses. Our Educational Outreach Program depends on your financial support to bring this invaluable program to more people.

Knowledge is empowering and this program can make a real difference in the health and wellness of our community.

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news - Freebies & Deals

Smithtown Dish – small bites of foodie news by Nancy Vallarella

Freebies & Deals

Try a free box of delicious and healthy snacks by mail. The folks at www.graze.com are offering one free box of guilt free snacking delivered to your home or office.  Log onto their web site, enter invite code  GRAZENEWS, choose from 90 nutritious snacks and they will send you a completely FREE box.

Waldbaums is gearing up for the Super Bowl. Use promo code GAMETIME to receive $20 off your $100 on-line market order at waldbaums.com place between January 22 through January 29, 2014.

Save $20 on your first pick-up or delivery order effective now through January 31, 2014 from Stop&Shop. Minimum order of $60 required. For delivery visit peapod.com. Visit stopandshop.com for pick up ordering.

Nancy Vallarella

www.facebook.com/chef.noko.wcs

Editorial - Smithtown Needs To Address Its RDD (Responsibility Deficit Disorder)

Faux-countability ? Nah, Smithtown has a Responsibility Deficit Disorder (RDD)!

Ruth Marcus, a Washington Post opinion writer, wrote an article, “Benghazi, Obamacare and the absence of accountability”, posted on the Washington Post website, January 21, 2014.  In the article Ms. Marcus makes the point that in every political scandal there is an accountability moment where someone accepts responsibility.  She explains that recent political accountability moments are too often about political point-scoring rather than problem-fixing… “Faux-countability” she calls it.

Here in Smithtown many people would undoubtedly welcome accountability… even faux-countability. In Smithtown, residents deal with a different diagnosis -  Responsibility Deficit Disorder (RDD). Here in Smithtown, no one (government and business owners) accepts responsibility for anything. 

One needs only to look at the Old Northport Road corridor to see how the manifestation of RDD negatively impacts residents and businesses. 

Business owners in the Old Northport Rd. corridor routinely blame the town for lack of planning, necessitating their illegal business practices. If only the town would adopt a plan, we would abide by it. We have been in business for decades, we need to violate town code to be profitable. The town needs to change its code to allow for this. We are violating the law, but it is not our choice.

The town’s position is: We “tried” to stop the illegal activities and have been unsuccessful in the courts; we are not responsible. Or the BZA approved it, the Planning Board gave it the go-ahead, the DEC etc., we are not responsible.

For years businesses in the corridor did whatever they could get away with and they got away with a lot: illegal mining, dumping, outdoor storage, etc.. There were court cases and fines, but the lucrative business practices continued for decades.  Occasionally, a business received unappreciated attention from the media… think - Izzo tire storage and fire, or the proposed power plant. The residents reacted, the town reacted, and the issue went away.  But town code remained and enforcement efforts remained unchanged. 

Residents living around the corridor learned to live with “status quo”. Not happy with what was happening in the area, but convinced that it was not going to get better, and hopeful that they could prevent things from getting worse, they formed civic associations. The associations stepped up the monitoring of the area and complaints were brought to officials privately and publicly. Their message: We are not going to disappear; We will work to protect our quality of life, there is a town code, and we expect you to enforce it.  

Businesses exist to make money. Successful business owners reinvent their business to maintain their competitiveness and to make more money.  As businesses in the corridor reinvented their business models and new practices were adopted, residents became incensed. Homeowners appealed to Town Board members to protect them from the practices that were destroying their quality of life. There were complaints about horrific odors, non-stop noise, 18-wheelers on residential roads,etc. . Town officials once again looked into the problem and discovered that there were no politically digestible solutions and therefore more work needed to be done to find the correct solution.

The town once again seems hamstrung. Some business owners have adopted a new business strategy publicly calling for planning and zoning changes. Residents are becoming more vigilant.

A major part of the problem can be traced back to RDD. Without businesses being held culpable for the illegal practices in the area, residents cannot feel confident that altering existing code will lead to compliance. Without Smithtown accepting responsibility for diligently enforcing its code, residents have no reason to belive that a new zoning category will lead to change and correct decades of violations.

It’s time for Smithtown’s electeds to address its Reponsibility Deficit Disorder. It’s time for Smithtown’s electeds to step up to the plate and find a solution to the Old Northport Rd. corridor. It’s time for Smithtown’s electeds to stop delegating their responsibility to appointed boards. It’s time for Smithtown to aggressively enforce its zoning code. It’s time to up the fines for commercial entities who violate Smithtown Town Code so it is no longer profitable to do so. And it is time to create a zone that includes reasonable outdoor storage, which does not allow environmental contamination, and protects residents from noise, odors and hazardous traffic in neighborhoods. 

Can Smithtown’s RDD be cured? Yes, but…

Pat

Stay Off The Roads And Allow Highway Workers To Do Their Job!

With forecasters predicting 15 inches of snow, high winds gusting up to 35 mph and temperatures as low as 12 degrees, most people are more than happy to stay inside until the roads are clear. That is exactly what workers clearing roadways would like you to do, stay off the roads. 

“So far so good,” pretty much sums up Smithtown Superintendent of Highway Glenn Jorgensen’s sentiment at 2:30 this afternoon. Mr. Jorgensen said that highway workers have been out on the road since the snow began falling earlier today and that crews will continue with snow clearing throughout the evening. They will begin again in the early morning. An emergency crew will be available overnight. 

Currently, according to Mr. Jorgensen, highway workers are keeping up with the roads. He urges people to stay off the road if they don’t need to go out and to “allow his workers to do their job.”

Earlier this year there was some criticism of the decision to close the Long Island Expressway in anticipation of a major snow event. Saying “Better safe than sorry” Jorgensen supported that decision but adds that he has not received notification from the county that there would be a similar road closure.

“There is a lot of traffic on the roads with backups slowing down the plows. if you must drive, allow yourself plenty of time, go slow and do not park on the street” said Jorgensen.