A revival of Jon Robin Baitz's play explores a family torn apart by political divisions and a buried trauma, anchored by a strong cast.
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01Summary
- 01The play is set on Christmas Eve 2004 in Palm Springs, California.
- 02Brooke (Lily Rabe) reveals her memoir details her brother Henry's suicide after his involvement in a cult bombing that killed a man.
- 03Her parents, Polly (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Lyman (Ed Harris), are staunch Republicans who oppose the book's publication.
- 04Polly threatens to disown Brooke if the memoir is published, leading to a series of confrontations.
- 05The production is directed by John Benjamin Hickey and marks the first revival since the play's 2011 debut.
02Why it matters
This review highlights a timely theatrical revival that examines how family secrets and political polarisation can poison relationships, offering audiences a mirror to current societal divides.
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