10/01/2019
Set in the mid-1980s just as most of America was becoming aware of AIDS and what it meant for our society, several seemingly unrelated individuals from all walks of life find their lives converging through the fog of government policies, prescription drugs, religion, self-awareness, and spirituality. This dreamlike screenplay moves the listener in and out of concrete scenes, visions, and visits from angels. While some characters discover their identity as gay men, others continue to deny their natures, and still others attempt to live with the changes that must come. Characters make unexpected choices that reveal both depth and vulnerability. Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, and the entire cast recreate their performances from the 2018 Tony Award-winning National Theatre revival. This beautifully arranged full-cast production provides a theatrical listening experience that blends highly dramatic voices with just the right amount of subtle sound effects to enhance the story without detracting from the vocal performances. Unfortunately, the emotional presentation occasionally presents difficulties due to the lack of the visual cues provided by the stage production. Listeners may have a hard time distinguishing voices when actors perform numerous characters or when the conversations become so loud with shouts and screams that the voices run together. VERDICT This is an intriguing piece that requires a willingness to step into the unknown, to suspend disbelief, and to think deeply about subjects still relevant, distressing, or even shocking.—Lisa Youngblood, Harker Heights P.L., TX
