Magic of the angels; Angels In America by Tony Kushner National Theatre (Cottesloe)
by Nicholas De Jongh
Evening Standard (London)
January 24, 1992
http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5780281450&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T5780281453&cisb=22_T5780281452&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=138528&docNo=3
"Tony Kushner's Angels In America is like a roman candle hurled into a drawing room."
This review talks about Kushner's script almost exclusively. As Mr. De Johng gives a summary of the plot, he also praises characterization and plot devices. He comments on the impact of Mr. Kushner's honest and brutal portrayal of AIDS on the stage. He also talks about the juxtaposition of the Angel's hopeful appearance in contrast to the betrayal, and self-deceptiveness of the rest of the characters. At the end of the review he mentions the design elements and acting, all in a postive light.
2.Original Broadway Production
Soaring 'Angels in America' // Ethereal epic of dissolution takes flight on Broadway
by David Patrick Stearns
USA TODAY
May 5, 1993
http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5780363104&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T5780363115&cisb=22_T5780363114&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8213&docNo=6
"This sprawling, two-part panorama of America falling apart amid AIDS and old-guard Republicanism, which opened Tuesday at the Walter Kerr Theater, often leaves actors and directors gasping to keep up with it."
Mr. Stearns obviously enjoyed the Broadway production of Angels in America, stating that the weaker moments in the original L.A. production have been adjusted for N.Y.C. (in a good way.) He praises the script, the acting, and the design of the production. Laughter is one thing he talks about being particularly surprising and positive about the play. He comments on the actor playing Prior and commends his portrayal comparing it to his work as the same character in the L.A. production.
3. Non-NYC Professional Production
Theater: Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
by Rick Reed
Windy City Times
March 15, 2006
http://www.windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=11036
"Sadly, this production of the first part of Angels in America, Tony Kushner’s epic portrait of America at the beginning of the AIDS crisis back in the early 1980s, never quite delivers on its obviously lofty ambitions."
Here is one of the few negative reviews I have come across. Mr. Reed speaks well of Kushner's script, even stating it is still relevant 20 years after being written. His complaints are if the production, acting and design. Mostly he focuses on how the design elements distanced the audience from the actors/characters. The lighting effects used did not allow the audience to see the pain in the actors' faces at important moments. He disliked the use of multiple coffins in the scenic design calling it "heavy-handed." As for the acting Mr. Reed doesn't seem impressed by the "one-note" performances and particularly has a problem with a woman being cast in three male role for what he considers novelty.
4. College Production
K-College theater hits most notes of 'Angels in America' just right
by Mark Wedel
Kalamazoo Gazette
May 16, 2008 07:27AM
http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/05/kcollege_theater_hits_most_not.html
"'Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches' is a sweeping symphony of dramatic themes."
Mr. Wedel praises this particular production of Angels in America, mentioning both technical design and acting. He makes an comment about how the fantastical script could come across as a melodrama, but the actor and director's have kept the focus on the character's very real issues. He also comments on the many, many themes hit upon by the script and the challenges of covering so much ground in one play. Though most of the article is plot summary, he has almost nothing but kind words for both the production and the script.
5. HBO Miniseries
Soaring Angels: Angels in America on HBO
by Dan Odenwald
Metro Weekly
PublishedDecember 4, 2003
http://www.metroweekly.com/arts_entertainment/tv/?ak=762
"Angels in America is intoxicating to watch. Not only is it mesmerizing and provocative, but it's also an inherently American piece, though one largely uninterested in underlining the myths of America."
The focus of this review is on the relevancy of Angels in America today and Kushner's wonderful writing. Mr. Odenwald seems to have enjoyed the television production of the play and appreciates the playwrights ability to unveil life's many contradictions. He states that the contradictions in personality make the characters human, maddeningly so. Overall he praises the acting and production of the piece but mostly he is focusing on the script.
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