Theory & Crit: Project #2/Option #2

PRE-BROADWAY STAGE PRODUCTION

Revelations
By Don Shewy, Village Voice, New York, 1991

http://www.donshewey.com/theater_reviews/angels_in_america.html

“Angels in America is a landmark not just among AIDS plays or gay dramas but in American theater -- partly because Kushner has the audacity to equate gay concerns with the fate of this country.”

The review is of the first ever staging of the play, therefore, goes deeply into the plot. Mr. Shewy applauds Kushner’s high ambition and describes him as an integral emerging American playwright. Of the production it describes how the play, as well as Perestroika, were part of a seven hour event, with some scenes simply being read directly from scripts or even summarized. The review seems to be in favor of the saga as a whole.

ORIGINAL BROADWAY PRODUCTION

Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
By James Miracky, America, New York, 1993

http://calvinsravings.blogspot.com/

“For all of its theoretical aspirations, the play is strongest in its treatment of the human relationships.”

The review starts by reflecting on recent media coverage of gay rights events and its coincidence with the play’s Broadway premiere. It follows by describing the characters and the events of the play, paying attention to the relationships and AIDS metaphor. Mr. Miracky highly admires the acting and mentions the simple set design and highlights its functionality. He criticizes the poetic and political droning on of some characters labeling it as “excessive”, but in all seemed to be a huge fan.

REGIONAL THEATRE (NON-NYC) PRODUCTION

Discomfort Cohn: From Mormons to valium to Roy Cohn, City Lights delves deep into Tony Kushner's “Angels in America”
By Marianne Messina, Metroactive, San Francisco, 2006

http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.20.06/angels-in-america-0638.html

“…the play peaks at the uppermost pinnacles of cognitive dissonance—when we can laugh and feel ugly at the same time. It's a tribute to some superb acting under Kit Wilder's direction that City Lights' production captures this twisted ethos and turns it into a unique kind of enlightenment.”

Ms. Messina seemed to like just about everything about this production. She barely describes the plot or presumes Kushner’s intention, but rather focuses primarily on the theatrical occurrence. She praises the acting, particularly the actor playing Roy Cohn, as well as the directing and set design. The only thing the reviewer could’ve done without was a moment after one scene where Prior’s deterioration was getting severe and the lighting was too bright and she could see the actor moving off without so much as a limp.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Live in Durango: “Angels” flies into FLC
By Patricia Miller, Herald, Fort Lewis, 2005

http://theatre.fortlewis.edu/news/anglesI_2005_herald.asp

“First catch your play, a director's handbook might advise before it said anything else. Because no matter what creativity, acting, music and sets you lavish on your production, if the play's a dud, camouflage or distraction is the best you can hope for.”

The review starts with a very general overview of the story. It then describes the characters. The rest seems to be a description of directing choices to inform the reader what they're in for. An Angel wearing roller skates, a bemoaning hard to understand Rabbi, and Harper twirling around in her LaZboy are just some of the images. If I had to guess I would say the reviewer wasn't a fan of the production, but it's very hard to tell.

HBO MINISERIES

Believe in HBO’s “Angels"
By Robert Biancho, USA Today, 2003

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2003-12-04-hbo-angels_x.htm

“There is much anger in Angels, but the glory of Kushner's work, and the reason it has not dated, is that it reaches past anger toward understanding.”

Mr. Biancho starts his review by describing the theme of the play then the characters, giving mini biographies of the famous actors playing them. In the end he offers that the miniseries is fantastic TV, a kind that should be brought produced more often. He says that even with it's $60 million budget, it still highlights the important message of Kushner's play.