Tony Kushner’s Masterpiece Is Magical, Mystical, Magnificent!

by Corey Finnegan & Barry David Horwitz

It’s not every day you get a chance to see a live performance of one of the greatest plays of the last 30 years, so if you’re lucky enough to live in the Bay Area, you should venture up to San Rafael soon and catch the Oakland Theater Project’s production of “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.”

Director Michael Socrates Moran has refashioned Part II, called “Perestroika,” amplifying its ambition. He brilliantly weaves together deeply poignant stories of flawed people reckoning with heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal. And they are facing a disease carrying a guaranteed death sentence.

“Angels” is set during the depth of the 1980s AIDS crisis, focusing on a handful of gay men and a Mormon closet-case, his wife, and mother. From real life, playwright Tony Kushner plucks Roy Cohn, the GOP lawyer who trained Trump in evil.

As they grapple with an epidemic that was killing gay men in droves in cities like New York (where most of the play is set) and San Francisco (which is described in the play as resembling Heaven—or, rather, Heaven is described as resembling San Francisco).

Besides the incredible writing, what makes “Angels” so unique is its element of the supernatural, verging on magical realism. The characters and dialogue are so believable, so real, that when an actual Angel shows up, we accept that Angels must be real too—otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the play.

The actors fulfill their roles brilliantly and uniquely. As the despondent Angel in black, Lisa Ramirez reveals that Prior (J Jha) he has the sacred gift of prophecy. Prior, however, doesn’t want to be a prophet—although he likes to dress the part.

This struggle between the sublime and the ordinary is at the heart of the play. The fully realized characters and their altogether human struggles help ground the play’s most magical elements in a world we all recognize. In the end, even the Angels are brought down to Earth. God has abandoned them and they are looking for human help to avert catastrophe.

Despite these obstacles, the OTP’s production is graced by outstanding performances:  Dean Linnard as the tortured Jewish boyfriend, James Mercer II as noble and hilarious nurse Belize, Victor Talmadge as demonic Roy Cohn, and Erin Mei-Ling Stuart as Ethel Rosenberg whom Roy condemned to death! An incredible panoply of great characters.

As the thwarted Mormon couple, Emilie Whelan and Edric Young do a great job of epitomizing religious conflicts.

But the play’s greatest strength is the writing. Even as the characters grapple with death and heartache, the dialogue crackles with wit and humor, because this story isn’t about the inevitability of death, but the nobility of living on despite disease and death.

We are deeply moved by the ending, in which Prior speaks about why he soldiers on in the face of his deadly disease. Written at a time when people were dying from AIDS every day, this play stands as a timeless ode to life in all its wonder. Don’t miss the chance to see this masterpiece.

“Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Part II, Perestroika” by Tony Kushner, directed by Michael Socrates Moran, set design by Mark Thomas, costumes by Arielle Powell, lighting by Kevin Myrick, sound by Ray Archie, projections by Sarah Phykitt, and choreography by Bear Graham.

—by Oakland Theater Project, playing at Marin Shakespeare Company, San Rafael, California. Info: oaklandtheaterproject.org – to October 27, 2024.

Cast: J Jha as Prior, Dean Linnard as Louis, James Mercer II as Belize & Mr. Lies, Lisa Ramirez as the Angel, Erin Mei-Ling Stuart as Hannah & Ethel Rosenberg, Victor Talmadge as Roy Cohn, Emilie Whelan as Harper, and Edric Young as Joe.

Banner photo: Ensemble with Lisa Ramirez as the Angel. Photos: Ben Krantz