20
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE MAY 2, 1997
EVENINGS OUT
A solid production of a Goliath of American theater
Angels in America Millenium Approaches Human Race Theater Company The Loft Theater, Dayton
Reviewed by Kaizaad Kotwal
To write about Tony Kushner's Angels in America, one is left with little choice but to resort to all the clichéd phrases that have become associated with this epic drama. The play took America by storm in 1993 when it opened on Broadway, and since then it has continued to maintain its status as one of the most important and influential theater works of this century.
After both parts closed on Broadway and the national tour had taken this smorgasboard of politics, religion, sexuality and culture to the heartland, several regional and university theaters have taken on the Herculean task of producing Angels.
The Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton is the first in the tri-state area to mount a regional production of Angels in America: Part 1, Millenium Approaches and for the most part it is a successful production and a valiant effort.
Kushner weaves an intricate story about a mottled group of people who must confront what it means to be American, "the melting pot where nothing melted.” The play is un-
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abashedly anti-Reagan, and through biting humor and heart-rending pathos, Kushner chronicles the lives of several gay men in the Eighties as America is plunged into the AIDS epidemic.
While the play takes on the monolithic establishments of race, gender, sexuality, politics, and religion, Kushner's true genius lies in never allowing us to lose the personal stories of these very human and very tortured souls.
Bob Hetherington, who directs the Human Race production, has chroeographed a solid piece, eliciting from most of his actors touching and effective performances. Hetherington has paced the play well and never allows a scene change or transition to lose the audience.
Sometimes however, the use of slow fades between scenes and allowing one scene to linger into the next was distracting, and pulled focus from what we were supposed to be watching.
The standout performances in the show belong to Bruce Cromer as Prior, Jeff Goldman as Louis and Jennifer Joplin as Harper.
Cromer's Prior is a delight to watch as he goes from bawdy humor to dark pain as the AIDS-infected prophet. Goldman's Louis is earnest and effective in telling us of the pain and confusion of leaving a lover who is dying of AIDS. Goldman's talent lies in taking some of Kushner's most preachy speeches and giving them humanity and clarity. Joplin's Valium-addicted Harper is very real, and she doesn't allow her to become a caricature, an easy slip with such an off-balance character.
Timothy Hendrickson plays the part of Joe well, but the struggles of dealing with the forces that keep his Republican, Mormon character from being openly gay aren't always clear enough to make us feel his pain.
Unfortunately Scott Stoney's Roy Cohn isn't as effective as he needs to be. Much of Cohn comes across as a cartoon, an imitation of Ron Liebman's Broadway performance, and in that the power of Kushner's attack on the hypocrisy of the right is somewhat diluted. While Dale Hodges turns in several effective performances in the play, her Hannah is weak and the scene where her son Joe comes out to her over the phone allows us no point of identification with either the mother or son.
John Rensel's lighting design is effective and allows for the play to flow with ease. David Center's set presents Angels against an apocalyptic urban backdrop with burnt brick and boarded up, abandoned buildings. The metaphor of a land in decay and one being constructed at the same time is a powerful idea, but the set seemed overly busy without great integration of all the elements in the staging. And the overly ornate floor, while symbolic, pulled focus once too often from what we should have been watching: the players, not the floor.
Despite certain weaknesses, Human Race should revel in its successful undertaking of a contemporary Goliath of American theater. This production is a must-see for anyone who hasn't yet seen Angels, and even those who have, might want to revisit it for the greatness of Kushner's theatrical prowess and for some honest and moving perfor-
mances.
Due to explosive ticket sales even before the show opened, the run has been extended through May 11. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday each week at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
For further infromation and special ticket rates and discounts call 937228-3630. Human Race will present Angels in America: Part II, Perestroika from September 11-28.
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