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A CurtainUp Review
Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika

"Abandoned. I smell a motif. The man that got away."— Belize

"Well it occurred to me. Louis."— Prior
Maia DeSanti and Aubrey Deeker
(Photo credit: Maia DeSanti and Aubrey Deeker Photo credit: Alexander Iziliaev)
In Angels in America Part One: Millenium Approaches things come apart. In Part Two: Perestroika unlikely and powerful forces of forgiveness emerge, like a cantilevered wing unsupported by an absent God. In Tony Kushner’s theology of estrangement, the abandoned angels and movers and shakers of heaven are caught up in apocalyptic preoccupation, while down below changes begins to occur in lives.

Angels in America’s sprawling scope makes it unwieldy to stage. But it’s anchored by a tight internal logic that allows intense, detailed focus within an array of intersecting visions and realities. Blanka Zizka’s Wilma Theater production of both halves of the opus is an achievement of disciplined direction and stagecraft. The coordinated production crew with top notch designers executes every scene and transition, and perfectly-timed visual components combine with Christopher Colucci’s jolting sound design and melodic original music.

Actors in these taxing roles plumb emotional depths across multiple characters. The sheer physical toll on them must be huge, especially on those days when they’re performing both parts of this long work. I hope the cast is taking vitamins.

Often theater audiences, viewed from above, could be seen as white cotton fields of older subscribers. It’s heartening to see an audience of many young and almost young people show up for Kushner and the Wilma. Tony Kushner’s multitude of fans who admire his blazing themes and cogent, often excessive, humorous, and startling language get a real treat here.

In my June review of Angels in America Part One I noted that this is a theater event worth a special trip to Philadelphia. That goes double now, with both parts of this modern classic playing. I was away during much of September and October, and returned to find that the good news for the Wilma is that the run has been sold out. That’s the bad news for prospective audience members, as it will not be possible to extend the run.

Angels in America Part One: Millenium Approaches by Tony Kushner
Directed by Blanka Zizka


Cast: Kate Czajkowski, Aubrey Deeker, Maia DeSanti, James Ijames, Stephen Novelli, Benjamin Pelteson, Mary Elizabeth Scallen, Luigi Sottile
Scenic Design: Matt Saunders
Lighting Design: Russell H. Champa
Costume Design: Oana Botez-Ban
Sound Design and original music: Christopher Colucci
Sept 12 – Oct 21
3 hours and 45 minutes with two 15 minute intermissions
Reviewed by Kathryn Osenlund based on 10/12 performance at Wilma Theater
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