REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
Stray Cat Theatre's presentation of both parts of Angels in America is expertly cast and directed and seeing both parts in repertory results in a deeply rewarding and emotionally resonating theatrical event.
As in Millenium Approaches, Kushner fills the play with characters who are flawed, selfish, frightened, and emotionally fractured, yet he writes them with enough honesty and humanity that they remain deeply compelling. Through unexpected acts of care and connection, these isolated individuals slowly become linked in ways they never anticipated. What ultimately emerges is an unconventional but moving sense of community. More than anything, the play emphasizes compassion and the surprising ways people can find connection across divisions of politics, identity, religion, and belief. Kushner continually challenges assumptions, revealing that the people we think we understand are often far more complex than they first appear.
Marshall Glass is excellent as Prior. While his body language clearly shows us that Prior is sick, the conviction he instills in Prior is unstoppable and lets us truly see how Prior's role as a prophet has energized him and that Prior refuses to have any self-pity and never lets the illness get in the way of his determination to live life to the fullest. As Louis, Nathan Spector allows us to fully understand the guilt his character has in leaving Prior, and shows how the sadness he felt becomes a driving passion to make things right. As Roy Cohn, Louis Farber is a firecracker ready to explode at any moment, yet Farber's manic portrayal has many moments of lucidity that let us understand how Cohn's impending death brings a calmness to the character. Farber is also truly wonderful in the many outbursts Cohn has, including one humorous one that is truly hilarious.
The clarity that Courtney Weir brings to Harper, now that she knows the truth of what's going on in her life, lets us see how Harper now has a firm and full grasp on reality. Weir is constantly engaging, present, and nuanced in her depiction of this layered woman. Devon Mahon allows us to truly see and feel the struggles that Joe faces and the understanding he has once his eyes are fully open. While I do think that Joe is the one character Kushner doesn't quite know what to do with, Mahon delivers a rich, fleshed-out and memorable portrayal. Michael Thompson is superb as Belize, instilling this fierce, funny, and compassionate character with dignity and strength, making every scene he's in feel alive with energy and conviction. Thompson's comic timing is superb. Nina Miller is equally as compassionate as Hannah, who finds herself unexpectedly helping Prior when he becomes ill. Miller's ability to also bring a true sense of honesty to Hannah is quite moving and she also does a wonderful job (as Ethel Rosenberg) with Spector, delivering the Kaddish for Cohn. As the Angel, Megan Holcomb is powerful, passionate, scary, and also quite humorous.
...it still serves as a message of hope for and a call for action for us to stand up and join together with our families and friends against whatever comes our way.