Review: ANGELS IN AMERICA (MILLENNIUM APPROACHES) at Uptown Players

Angels in America is a beast of a piece to mount, even when broken into parts. Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize winning cycle explores relationships, identity, and how our present interacts with both the future we fear and the past that haunts us. Uptown Players ambitiously mounts the first play in the two-part sequence (Millennium Approaches), and does not disappoint. Aside from a few minute mic and lighting issues, as one might expect on opening night, the show ran easily and cleanly - hitting all the right chords under the direction of Uptown regular Cheryl Denson. I'm always wary of seeing Angels, as if only for the shear amount of text and work, the play is not an easy one to pull off, let alone well. I was pleased to find the show easy to digest, enjoyable to watch, and frankly a cathartic way to end my week.

Kushner's text is no easy burden to bear, though the cast takes the challenge tactfully and masterfully. Mariannae Galloway's Harper draws deep sympathy and plenty of laughs, making me like a character I normally find hard to connect with. David Lugo as Roy is something to watch - his performance is visceral, the dialect spot on, and holds the scene every time he banters or berates. Garrett Storms' extremely physical performance as Prior brings reality to an otherwise lofty narrative. Kyle Igneczi as Joe and David Meglino as Louis juggle with some of Kushner's more cerebral dialogue, but still manage to keep a pace and humanity to their characters - the nearly 3 Hour experience flew by. Emily Scott Banks as the Angel, Pam Dougherty as Hannah, and Walter Lee as Belize each brighten the stage as they each enter as a long series of characters - each one distinct and bright on stage.

Angels is framed well, with a series of cubist flats that expertly swivel and fly out to mark each passing scene (designed H. Bart McGeehon). The fragmented surface plays screen to a series of dynamic projections, which, along with Aaron Johansen's lighting design thoughtfully transform an otherwise barren abstraction of 1985 New York into what (with fantastically managed scene changes) feels like a living thing. Hair and Makeup by Coy Covington, Costumes by Suzi Cranford, and Sound Design by Marco Salinas round off the production.

While the play is definitely a lot to take in, Uptown Players makes the challenging piece enjoyable where I usually find it endurable. For those unfamiliar with the second part in the play-sequence: Parastroika, the piece may leave you with more questions than answers, but the journey the cast and team take you on is worth the contemplation - and will hopefully lead audiences to explore the full work.

Angels in America runs at the Kalita Humphreys Theater through November 20th. More information can be found at www.uptownplayers.org or at 214-219-2718.

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