{"id":33323,"date":"2017-05-24T18:48:45","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T22:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=33323"},"modified":"2017-05-25T15:12:02","modified_gmt":"2017-05-25T19:12:02","slug":"review-civic-theaters-presenttaion-angels-america-gay-fantasia-national-themes-jane-spiegel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=33323","title":{"rendered":"Review of Civic Theater’s Presenttaion of “ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes” by Janel Spiegel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Story & Photos By: Janel Spiegel <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Without a doubt the Civic Theater masterfully presented “ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes”. Our contributor Janel Spiegel was on hand for the final two performances. She was very moved by how wonderfully the Civic Theater’s talented and crew brought this show to life. So without further ado here is her review of part 1 & 2 of this past weekend\u2019s performances…<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The Civic Theatre of Allentown Presents: ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes-Part 1 Millennium Approaches, May 18, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEight actors play twenty-seven characters\u201d in \u201cAngels in America.\u201d<\/p>\n

ANGELS IN AMERICA: A GAY FANTASIA ON NATIONAL THEMES
\nMay 5-20, 2017
\nWritten by Tony Kushner
\nDirected by William Sanders
\nProduction Stage Manager Peter Jodik
\nLighting Designer Will Morris
\nScenic Artist Jan Joyce
\nCostume Designer Margaret Wiseheart Anderson
\nAssistant Lighting Designer Alex Michaels
\nHair and Wigs Kim Danish
\nWardrobe Specialist Dee Rhoads
\nSet Designer Marilyn Loose
\nProp Master Jason Sizemore
\nAssistant Stage Mangers Carmen Chen, Gareth Messman and Zoli Heft
\nMEET THE CAST
\nWill Morris \u2013 Prior Walter
\nTroy Brokenshire \u2013 Louis Ironson
\nJason Roth \u2013 Joe Pitt
\nGretchen K. Furst \u2013 Harper Pitt<\/p>\n

\u201cGod won\u2019t talk to me, I have to make up people to talk to me.\u201d Harper Pitt<\/p>\n

May 18th, it was a warm evening as The Allentown Civic Theatre welcomed theatregoers to see a beautiful performance of Tony Kushner\u2019s Pulitzer Prize for Drama winning play. \u201cAngels in America\u201d also became a mini-series on HBO in which it starred Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright and Justin Kirk. The play takes place in \u201cNew York City, Salt Lake City and Elsewhere, 1985-1986.\u201d In 1985, America and the world struggled with so many different problems and things that were happening that people just did not understand. No one knew what was going to come to fruition. It was all new and scary.
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\nIn the play we meet a variety of beautiful, damaged, broken and yet hopeful characters. They all see life different and it shows humanity at its best and at its worst.
\nWe also learn that the truth is sometimes difficult but it is the most valued lesson. We meet Harper Pitt played by Gretchen K. Furst and she is struggling with a valium addiction and a distant husband with a secret. Harper is witty and a \u201chot mess.\u201d She also has to deal with secrets which is the theme in a way. All of these broken or damaged characters may not be as broken as you think.
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\nWe also meet Harper\u2019s secret keeping husband Joe Pitt played by Jason Roth who seems like such a lost soul and he is just searching for love, truth and a certain forgiveness. Joe is a talent and force to be reckoned with.
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\nWe meet the incredibly talented Will Morris who plays Prior Walter. Will portrays Prior with such a beautiful pizazz. He brings a man to life despite the circumstances he is going through. Will also changes his demeanor and truly gives Prior his moment.
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\nWe meet Troy Brokenshire who plays Louis Ironson, who has a sort of lost puppy dog way about him. In the most adorable way. You feel for these characters. You feel the humanity they are bringing out. We also meet Roy Cohn played by the brilliant, vivacious Barry Glassman. Roy Cohn is sort of the guy you want to love, hate and hang out with all at the same time. He is smart, witty and sharp as a whip.
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\nThe audience gave Glassman and Will Morris a lot of laughs as he didn\u2019t miss a beat with the humor among some of the saddening scenes. The first thing that stands out with \u201cAngels in America\u201d is the cast.
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\nWe meet Adam Newborn who plays Belize and he is just so full of life. He is like a living, breathing cartoon character and he is vibrant and colorful as a soul. He just a positive essence that is hard to ignore.
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\nThis brilliant group of actors portraying various tormented, happy, bewildered characters that make chaos seem beautiful. In a world today where bullying is so out there and people can be judgmental, this play was before its time. People treating others with disrespect and not knowing the story behind the struggle. As the saying goes, everyone is fighting a battle, be kind. Even if it is just a smile, you can make a difference. That is what I believe \u201cAngels in America\u201d taught so eloquently.
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\nThis play was amazing. It had everything and the actors made it special. They poured everything including their souls into the performances. This cast gave performances that will be etched in our memories for a lifetime.
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\nThe Allentown Civic Theatre is such a positive affirmation in Allentown, PA. It brings something extra special to the Lehigh Valley. If you get a chance to visit, please do.<\/p>\n

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The Civic Theatre of Allentown Presents: ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes-Part 2: Perestroika – May 19, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Civic Theatre of Allentown performed both part one and part two of \u201cAngels in America.\u201d The cast gave all they had in performing such a legendary play that even had an HBO miniseries starring Al Pacino. Tony Kushner\u2019s Pulitzer Prize for Drama also won a Tony Award for Best Play.
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\nPart two we see the cast in a suffering and some \u201ctaking pleasure in the misery\u201d of the characters and their endless suffering. In \u201cPerestroika,\u201d we see the acts \u201cSpooj,\u201d \u201cThe Anti-Migratory Epistle,\u201d and more. One of the most powerful is watching the sadness on the faces of Roy Cohn played by the elegant Barry Glassman.
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\nWe meet Joanna Wilchek Basist who portrays The Angel. This was a small cast portraying various characters. When you think of the incredible feat they accomplished it is amazing. Also Susan Sneeringer who portrayed Hannah Pitt was so good. Her masked anger for her son was so beautifully played.
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\nThis cast did such an amazing job. They created something that we will remember forever.
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\nBe sure to check out the links below to follow and learn more about all of the fantastic things happening at the Civic Theater of Allentown, also please consider contributing to the reconstruction of The Allentown Civic Theatre.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.civictheatre.com\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/civictheatre\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/CivicAllentown<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CivicTheatreofAllentown\/<\/a>
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