A RT & E N T E RTA I N M E N T
s ta g e
Restorative Fantasy →
Angels in America sheds a sharp, profoundly moving and vastly entertaining light on the current state of global chaos Story David Bateman
T
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asteless jokes and corrupt
repertory
of
foundly moving and vastly enter-
members of the Alberta legis-
politics are nothing new to
recent Canadian and Toronto polit-
taining light upon the current state
lature to attempt to, as Susan
Toronto audiences. Of late
ical movements he reaches theat-
of global chaos.
Bennett wrote in Theatre Research
we have been fed a glutton’s buf-
rical heights that lend our sacred
Considered one of the most sig-
in Canada, “pull government fund-
fet of daily treats thanks to fed-
national identity a rather farci-
nificant theatrical events of the late
ing from Alberta Theatre Projects
eral, provincial and municipal mis-
cal tone. Schultz says that “unex-
20th century, Tony Kushner’s six-
because of their production of a ‘gay’
demeanours, ranging from shady
amined knee-jerk ideologies have
hour, two-part extravaganza is sub-
play, something that was spoofed
senatorial expense claims by a “no-
established an absolute buffoon” as
titled A Gay Fantasia on National
on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. The
nonsense”
govern-
our butter-sculpted mayor. Current
Themes. Receiving its world pre-
play was sold out every night.”
ment to power plant closures and
cracks in municipal mirrors move
miere at the Mark Taper Forum
Set during the Reagan regime,
a gravy train-stopping “crack”down
us all into an even more self-reflec-
in Los Angeles in 1992, the show
an administration many consider
by one rather “high” and mighty
tive, theatrical example of the ways
received Tonys for best play in 1993
responsible for the deaths of many
mayor who took his own sweet
in which the 21st century has been
and 1994 for both parts: Millennium
AIDS victims due to insufficient
time taking the elevator down to
burdened by so much outrageous
Approaches and Perestroika. Yet
funding, Angels in America acts as a
see the Pride flag raised. Isn’t all of
baggage. Do we need “angels” in
scandal followed a number of
prophetic text that deftly chronicles
this only supposed to happen south
Canada to save us from all of these
productions,
picketed
the specific political movements
of the border?
“ungodly” acts? Angels in America,
Charlotte, North Carolina incarna-
and individuals who contributed
When Albert Schultz, artistic direc-
opening at Soulpepper this month,
tion in 1996 to the ’96/’97 Calgary
to rampant systemic homophobia,
tor of the acclaimed Soulpepper
promises to shed a sharp, pro-
productions that prompted some
among other things. The genius
conservative
company,
speaks
from
the
July 2013
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19/06/2013 2:04:46 PM