Rating: 
Summary: Well written, but...
Review: This isn't a fair representation of the Reagan years. First off, it's a fact that Ethel Rosenberg was a communist. Like it or not, she, along with her husband, was a spy! They lied to the American public and they were a detrimant. Reviving Ethel Rosenberg like that was done quite tastelessly. Furthermore, it's a fact that Ronald Reagan has spent 5.7 billion dollars to help research AIDS! It isn't Reagan who helped spread the disease of AIDS it was unprotected sex. Ronald Reagan being a Republican-Conservative was used as a scapegoat in this play. I don't mind if this play is trying to spread a liberal agenda (the more power to you!), but I do mind that they do it in spite of a great President with lies.
Rating: 
Summary: Respect the delicate ecology of your dellusions
Review: Tony Kuhsner's opus magnum, "Angels in America" consists of two, equally brilliant parts: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika. Both parts share the same characteristics: beautiful, beautiful dialogue,mesmerizing characters, intriguing story, and erudition. I prefer Perestroika because it appears to be more eloquent and thought provoking. The first part impressed me: I was, ad literam, floored, when I read it. Kusnher is an artist of great power, postmodern approach to the subjects of AIDS, the phenomenon of right wing idioty, and self-discovery, works to perfection. It is only so rarely that we find characters so well rounded in service of not only social satire but also a higher point, an exploration of human feelings and nature of ideals. Perestroika brings more fascinating material, but even without it, dialogue like Kushner's resonates on its own. If Louis and Belize were talking about tomatos, it would sound like a profound philosophical discussion between Hegel and Russell, enabled in Kushner's amazing world.
The character that stands above all others is Harper (played by Mary Louise Parker in the HBO special), the depressed wife of a (get this:) conservative, republican, closeted gay mormon who worships Roy Cohn.
If Euripides of Sophocles were alive today, this is what they would write. "Angels in America" cannot be boxed in and called a drama. It's a play, lets stick to that. In it, you'll find everything from tragedy to satire. It deserves to stand up there with the best plays of our time.
Rating: 
Summary: Angels in America: The Infinite Journey
Review: Tony Kushner addresses several controversial topics namely homosexuality, politics, and religion in Angels in America. However, the most important theme of the play reaches beyond those topics. Kushner places emphasis on issues, such as discrimination and corruption, yet I found greater meaning in the play when I looked past those issues that Kushner raised. Kushner depicts America as a country that focuses on images based on stereotypes and preconceived ideas that often have little experiential founding. Americans use those images as a framework for dealing with their everyday activities and encounters. This idea is not that shocking if you assume that Kushner means that Americans impose those images upon other people. Although he does portray that meaning, Kushner takes the imposition of those images a step further by showing through his characters that individuals also have stereotypes and preconceived ideas that they inflict upon themselves. While everyone needs an image of him or her self in order to function, they deny a part of themselves by embracing that image. Kushner shows how life is about struggling with the image we have of ourselves in order to have richer and more fulfilling experiences. We are constantly discovering aspects of the images that we have of ourselves that are false as well as becoming comfortable with those aspects that we find are true. The character Prior reveals that this process of self-discovery is an infinite journey on which people thrive. The journey may be full of pain and tragedy, but it also bears the fruit of revelation and understanding. For me, this lesson about humanity is what makes the play a respectable and praiseworthy piece of work.
Rating:
Summary: The Millenium nears; fear surrounding AIDS begins to melt.
Review: Tony Kushner's epic play "Angels In America" is a phenomenal play because of its reality in today's society. There is no other play that I know of that accurately reflects our times and culture on such a controversial issue. The characters in the play become alive and you find yourself alive in each scene with them. Millenium Approaches and Perestroika tells the story of a few people trying to make sense of a cynical and judgmental world. In these characters' daily lives, Kushner deals with controversial issues such as homosexuality, AIDS, mental illness and the social and political problems they encounter. Beneath all the political and moral (religious) outrage, lurks a desire to understand what it means to live and die of AIDS in a world that is disconcerted about human life. Kushner also opens our eyes to the political leaders of the eighties, mainly Ronald Reagan, and their avoidance in dealing with the issue of AIDS. This is keenly shown in the conversations of the characters throughout the play. The choice of title for both parts of the play remarkably ties it all together. As the millenium approaches we can see society is starting to feel some compassion and hope for those suffering with such misfortunes as AIDS and mental illness which have been shrouded with a stigma. The ice is beginning to melt as society and political leaders can no longer avoid these maladies. The cold war, Perestroika, is finally dropping its curtain.
Rating: 
Summary: Angels in America is a definite eye opener.
Review: Tony Kushner's play Angels in America is a look into the lives of people who at first seem exact opposities. However, as the play unfolds we see how all of their suffering is intertwined. The play focuses mainly on the character Prior, who is a homosexual man living with AIDS in the 80's, and all of the people directly and indirectly involved in his life. Not only did this play open my eyes to the horrors of AIDS, it also had a few humorous lines that were well placed. The play is not just about a man living with AIDS it also looks into feelings we have as human being. These feelings are seen through the characters such as the greedy lawyer, the Valuim addicted abandoned housewife, the ex-lover, and the mother of a Mormon homosexual. All in all this play shows how deep down no matter what differences we have on the surface, deep down we are all people who can suffer just as much as the next person.
Rating:
Summary: Synopsis
Review: Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize winning work, Angels In America, is a monumental masterpiece. Angels In America is a deep imaginative work which transcends from earth into Heaven; while focusing on various issues such as AIDS, sex, politics, and religion. In the two full length plays, Millenium Approaches and Perestroika, Kushner illustrates highly imaginative, expressionistic-surrealistic techniques that tell a story of people trying to not only find meaning within the world, but also to find meaning within their lives. Prior is a man who is not only deteriorating due to the fact that he has AIDS, but also because his lover Louis abandoned him. Through his hallucinative encounters with his ancestors and angels; Prior will come to the realization that even when death is evident, if you have hope, you have life. Louis, Prior's ex-lover, becomes involved with Joe, an ex-Mormon, who decided to come out of the closet when his wife, Harper, who has a mild Valium addiction, is slowly having a nervous breakdown. Then there is Roy Cohn, a successful New York lawyer, who desperately tries to conceal his homosexuality and AIDS because he believes that only heterosexual men, not homosexual men, can have high power and clout. All in all, Kushner wrote an astonishing American play that emphasizes the issues of our time. Issues like AIDS and homosexuality that were blatantly disregarded during the Reagan years, prohibited among religious beliefs, and looked down upon by society as a whole. Moreover, the play transcends deeper than these issues alone. There is a realistic sense of wanting to find meaning in a senseless world, a world that disregards the struggles and tragedies of human life. Finally, there is the longing to find meaning in life, to come to the realization that we should not be shameful for who we are, or what we do, also that we are wonderful creatures who deserve the blessing of more life! Kristen Caprara
Rating:
Summary: A triumphant landmark of the U.S. theater
Review: Tony Kushner's two part epic play "Angels in America" is
truly a landmark of United States literature. The two parts of the
play (subtitled "Millennium Approaches" and
"Perestroika") together represent a passionate and
intelligent exploration of American life during the era of President
Ronald Reagan. Kushner peoples his play with individuals who are for
the most part "marginal" in some way in U.S. culture. His
characters include Mormons, gay men, men with AIDS, Jews, a drug
addict, and an African-American drag queen. These various perspectives
and voices allow Kushner to create some fascinating dialogues about
the "American dream"--and about the nightmares that can go
along with it.
Kushner's cast of characters is excellently drawn, but
perhaps his most astounding creation is influential lawyer Roy Cohn, a
fictionalized version of a real historical figure. A gay Jew who is
himself viciously homophobic, Kushner's Cohn is grotesque, hilarious,
frightening, and seductive all at once. This character allows Kushner
to make fascinating statements about power, politics, and sexual
identity.
Also brilliant is Kushner's use of Mormonism and its
theology as an integral component of the play. Kushner is the first
literary artist I know of who has used Mormon themes and motifs in
such a consistently compelling and intelligent way. Kushner is, in my
opinion, neither a proselytizer for nor a basher of Mormonism, but his
presentation of troubled Mormon characters and his apparent satirizing
of some aspects of Mormon theology both strike me as potentially
controversial. Because Mormonism is a religion founded in the U.S.,
this aspect of Kushner's play accentuates the essential
"American-ness" of the piece.
Kushner achieves a stunning
blend of politically charged realism and fantastic, even playful
mysticism in "Angels." His writing is sharp and cutting at
times, and elsewhere tender and haunting. And the play is often quite
funny. Although the action of the play focuses on the Reagan era,
"Angels" often takes in a much larger sweep of U.S., and
even world, history.
"Angels in America" is a fascinating
meditation on power and its abuse, on disease and healing, on honesty
to oneself and to others, and on pluralism and bigotry. A masterpiece
of 20th century literature, this is a play to be seen. But whether or
not you have seen it, it is also a work to be read and pondered.
Rating:
Summary: A triumphant landmark of the U.S. theater
Review: Tony Kushner's two part epic play "Angels in America" istruly a landmark of United States literature. The two parts of theplay (subtitled "Millennium Approaches" and"Perestroika") together represent a passionate andintelligent exploration of American life during the era of PresidentRonald Reagan. Kushner peoples his play with individuals who are forthe most part "marginal" in some way in U.S. culture. Hischaracters include Mormons, gay men, men with AIDS, Jews, a drugaddict, and an African-American drag queen. These various perspectivesand voices allow Kushner to create some fascinating dialogues aboutthe "American dream"--and about the nightmares that can goalong with it. Kushner's cast of characters is excellently drawn, butperhaps his most astounding creation is influential lawyer Roy Cohn, afictionalized version of a real historical figure. A gay Jew who ishimself viciously homophobic, Kushner's Cohn is grotesque, hilarious,frightening, and seductive all at once. This character allows Kushnerto make fascinating statements about power, politics, and sexualidentity. Also brilliant is Kushner's use of Mormonism and itstheology as an integral component of the play. Kushner is the firstliterary artist I know of who has used Mormon themes and motifs insuch a consistently compelling and intelligent way. Kushner is, in myopinion, neither a proselytizer for nor a basher of Mormonism, but hispresentation of troubled Mormon characters and his apparent satirizingof some aspects of Mormon theology both strike me as potentiallycontroversial. Because Mormonism is a religion founded in the U.S.,this aspect of Kushner's play accentuates the essential"American-ness" of the piece. Kushner achieves a stunningblend of politically charged realism and fantastic, even playfulmysticism in "Angels." His writing is sharp and cutting attimes, and elsewhere tender and haunting. And the play is often quitefunny. Although the action of the play focuses on the Reagan era,"Angels" often takes in a much larger sweep of U.S., andeven world, history. "Angels in America" is a fascinatingmeditation on power and its abuse, on disease and healing, on honestyto oneself and to others, and on pluralism and bigotry. A masterpieceof 20th century literature, this is a play to be seen. But whether ornot you have seen it, it is also a work to be read and pondered.
Rating:
Summary: All things fall apart
Review: Turning and turning in the widening gyrThe falcon cannot bear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world W. B. Yeats: "The Second Coming" Tony Kushner's Angel in America reminded me of Yeat's words since the play presents an American gay community falling apart, and wreaked havoc by AIDS and fear in the 80s through Reagan's presidency. I love the way Kushner depicts marvelously and humorously the gay community because it reveals that social rejection and repulsion toward a minority affects the behaviors of this society's all members to the point where they behave anti-heroically. I was very impressed how each character in the play represented a "type" of being whom we all are inside ourselves. Louis, who thought he knew what love was truly about, abandons Prior at the first minute Prior's illness aggravates. When I read that scene, I felt the same way as Prior. I was disgusted as well as disappointed at Louis' decision. It seems that AIDS and the view of society toward it had influenced Louis so heavily that he had to quit Prior. I do not wish to judge Louis for his actions because I believe that Kushner's intention was to show us that human love often becomes impermanent and illusive. This made me realize the mediocrity of human nature along with mine, which has often submitted to social pressure and prejudice toward AIDS. Joe refuses, at the beginning, his sexual orientation, which poisons his relationship with Harper. Then, Harper, at the end, refuses Joe's accepting his homosexuality and wants him back with her. Her love of freedom from Joe has become a fear of loneliness. America advocates individualism, but it can often be transformed into solitude. Moreover, Joe and Harper struggle firmly to create a happy American family, which, in their case, leads to suffering and despair. The hypocritical behavior of a society, which forces gays to remain silent about their sexual orientation, does not solve anything, but rather exacerbates tensions in couples such as Joe's and Harper's. Hannah, Joe's mother, is part of this society that refuses reality and prefers silence to truth. She indeed feigns not to understand her son Joe when he confesses his homosexuality to her. Kushner draws a sorry reality of parents who refuses their children's homosexuality. Finally, Roy hates what he is and persecutes his "peers." Kushner describes wonderfully how society can annihilate human beings' self-esteem to the point where they hate themselves and one another. Again, Kushner is a master at representing society's negative influence toward its members, which pollutes human relations such as Louis and Prior, Joe and Harper as well as Joe and Hannah for instance. It was a great experience to read this gay comedy. As a white heterosexual man, I felt very uncomfortable while reading homosexual erotic scenes or even platonic homosexual love scenes, which made me realize that the homosexual community may have felt the same way while reading most of human literature about love, which is heterosexually-oriented. It is indeed difficult to imagine what and how the gay minority has felt when most of the time forgotten in the literature of love. I am grateful to Kushner for this work of art, which made it possible for me to grasp that feeling.
Rating:
Summary: A new understanding of an American Society
Review: When starting this book I really didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed. Angels in America: A gay fantasia on national themes, was a great book that kept you attention from the first to last page. Angels in America gave me a perspective on a gay community I have never experienced in my life. The characters in this book were intriguing, but still understandable. You could see them as the human beings they are. One character in particular that I felt gave me a humanistic view of the realities of our country. That character is Joe, A married man who is a republican morman. Joe hides his homosexuality, and eventually faces it head on after leaving his wife Harper. Joe is a weak man who is very self conscience of how others view him. Mormans, Jews, African Americans, and Homosexuals, are a few of the races, religions, and sexual preferences looked at throughout this book. The conversations between Roy and Belize and a good example of race issues in America. Roy a Jewish lawyer is very hostile towards Belize an African American nurse and drag queen. America has obvious racial and religious issues that are often left with out saying a word about them. Angels in America faces this problem head on. It takes the issue and puts it in your face, bluntly. It is a reality check that often people don't want to hear. Angels in America is a great story I advise everyone to read. I think more books like this could help people understand one another better.
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