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Now, 18 years into a new millennium,Angelsonce again spreads its magnificent wings over Broadway.
They know what they are, but know not what they, or their country, may be.
Others struggle mightily either to unearth that knowledge or to keep it buried.
Willing or not, all Kushners central characters experience this excruciating shedding of skin and self.
Louis, for all his cowardice, is a shockingly brave character from a writing point of view.
Big Ideas are all you love.
The white cracker who wrote the National Anthem knew what he was doing.
He set the word free to a note so high nobody can reach it.
Louis can reason but he cantsee.
Hes smart, but he isnt brave.
And theyve got them here, in Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane.
Theyre stars, yes, but in Elliotts production they feel like an integral part of a glorious firmament.
Im the 34th, I think … according to Mother, Prior stammers.
Shes including the two bastards, then!
Pace growls in gruff, hilarious resentment.
Deep funny, dark funny.
The laughter often aches, but it lifts and excites us too.
Then it collapses back into the floor and vanishes.
How else could Kushner get away with bringing someone like him to life?
Hes like the worst human being who ever lived!
Kushner doesnt absolve Roy but he does give him two very seductive qualities: a brain and a wit.
Eight loving arms and all those suckers.
Know what I mean?
Lane is absolutely in his element here like an unholy, grinning mashup of Max Bialystock and Richard III.
Has the characters gushing overLa Cage aux Follesever been funnier or, in a strange way, more poignant?
Its also a horribly moving one.
His performance reveals the link between true comic genius and a knowledge of the dark.
You love me; thats moving, Im moved.
A nice, nice man.
ThisAngelstakes place at the very witching time of night, the time of fears and secrets and confessions.
And then, speaking of planes and spirits, theres the Angel.
I wont spoil the details, but the results are electrifying.
How do people change?
Prior isnt the only one who has visions.
Its up to you to do the stitching.
Kushners play was and remains a clarion call of possibility for both citizens and theater artists.
So why arent there more plays likeAngels in America?
We have enough morality plays.
