Project #2

Stages of Development and Criticism

Angels in America by Tony Kushner

OPTION #2

1. Pre-1993 Productions (Los Angeles, San Francisco, London)

http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5780010117&format=GNBFI&sort=DATE,A,H&startDocNo=76&resultsUrlKey=29_T5780002799&cisb=22_T5780010162&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8213&docNo=85

"In the middle of it all is an AIDS patient who has a droll angel crashing into his bedroom, commencing a spiritual odyssey with the cheerful air of The Wizard of Oz."

Objective Summary: Tony Kushner's Angels In America is being produced at many locations on the west coast and many more are already set to come in the future. Kushner's work, to an extent, is being molded and tested in productions while showing potential to have a seismic effect on 20th century theatre. The plot consists of events having to do with themes of AIDs, homosexuality and the shift to the new order from the old.

2. Original Broadway Production (1993)

http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5780010117&format=GNBFI&sort=DATE,A,H&startDocNo=126&resultsUrlKey=29_T5780002799&cisb=22_T5780010162&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8213&docNo=130
"Tony Kushner's play Angels in America has always been devilishly difficult to produce because of its size and scope."

Objective Summary: Angels in America's opening in New York was delayed a week because of all the technical obstacles in the show. This includes the wings for the angel as well as the set and it's "dancing" within the show to change locations throughout the show. This is unlike the Los Angeles production, where the actors created and shifted the props and set in transitions themselves, as it did not have computer engineering for scene changes. Concerns for the amount of money that the show will make are present as the theater is donating one dollar for every ticket to non-profit organization called Broadway Cares. Actors feel that the show is more important in the big picture, as they have rehearsed for free in lobbies in order to be apart of this experience.

3. A non-NYC based professional production

http://www.spanglemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130%3Afallen-angels-failure-to-take-flight&Itemid=70

"I went in fully aware this is a student cast — although many have professional credits — and walked out feeling the show’s problems have far less to do with the actors and far more to do with some poor choices by the production team."

Objective Summary: The critic had expectations for this Cleveland production of Angels In America that were not met, however his reservations of the show were focused more on the design elements and it's practicality in execution. The critic states that he felt removed from the actors more than he would have liked. The show was missing a sexual element as the director staged the park scene and hospital scene without sex or nudity. Casting choices come into question but overall he feels that the script still resonates with today's audience.

4. College production

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/05/kcollege_theater_hits_most_not.html

"It sounds like it could be a melodrama, and with added hallucinatory appearances..."

Objective Summary: The production hit most of the notes essential for the 3 hour piece. An artistic director from a New York Company comes in to guest direct this production. Plot summary is given as the critic describes the show as more of an soap opera. The cast had mute chorus members to change the scenes which were comprised of little to no set and props as well as deceased AIDs victims. The critic coments on many of the actors and their standout performance qualities.

5. HBO mini-series (2003)

http://www.movie-gazette.com/cinereviews/1022

"Prior, understandably, isn't best chuffed, and before he knows where he is he's taking it out on the large angel (Emma Thompson) who starts invading his room at night and yelling nasties at him. "

Objective Summary: Critic begins by calling to attention the need for "believers" in an audience in order to absorb the powerful production. He goes into plot summary and character break downs while touching on the essential themes of the production while commenting on the hair-do of Al Pacino's character. The critic sees the cast of characters as a "miserable bunch" and offers his opinion on the length of the show, which he feels could have been done in one piece instead of two. The critic was not satisfied by the production.