Review – Angels in America

The Rep brings Angels to Geelong

Playing ten shows from the 1st of February through to the 16th of February 2019, Angels in America (Part 1): Millennium Approaches is a bold addition to the repertoire of the Geelong Repertory Theatre Company.  Playing at the intimate Woodbin Theatre in Geelong and directed by David Postill and Scott Bradley, this Tony Award winning play written by Tony Kushner is unexpected and exciting, thought provoking and confronting.

The story is set in New York in the early days of the AIDS crisis in America in the time of Ronald Regan’s presidency, covering a number of months from 1985 into 1986.  Prior Walter is the last surviving member of his a white, Anglo-Saxon protestant family. Louis Ironson is part of a conservative Jewish family. The relationship between Prior and Louis falls apart as Louis abandons Prior after Prior is diagnosed with AIDS. 

Joe Pitt is a closeted gay Mormon, trying to survive marriage to his Valium addicted, agoraphobic wife Harper.  Working as a law clerk in the same offices where Louis works, Joe is offered a job in the Justice Department in Washington by his corrupt mentor, Republican lawyer Ray Cohen, who is trying to place friends into positions of influence in American politics. When Ray, who is also a closeted homosexual, is diagnosed with AIDS he refuses to acknowledge his illness and instead declares that he is dying of cancer.

As Joe’s life spirals out of control, he crosses paths with Louis and they tentatively begin to form a relationship.

While the entire cast provide compelling performances, Dylan Tijan delivers the most outstanding performance in the demanding role of Prior Walter.  Emotional, sassy, strong, lonely – all words that describe Prior and conveyed to the audience with apparent ease by the talented Tijan.

Postill and Bradley have taken a very ambitious bite of a very big cherry and have managed to direct their cast to a successful conclusion, leaving the audience wanting more, despite the fact that this play has a run  time of nearly three hours. 

Be warned. Profanity abounds.  If you are likely to be offended by simulated sex, leather-clad bears and bad language, you should probably give this one a miss.  If you are someone who enjoys thought-provoking entertainment and story lines that still hold relevance today despite being set in the 1980’s, this is a show not to be missed.

Angels in America (Part 2): Perestroika is eagerly anticipated.