Director Ron Medici says Oswego State University's spring production of Angels In America is "what college theatre is all about." Angels, running in Waterman Theatre April 25- 29, explores the early years of the AIDS epidemic, how it rocked the homosexual and straight world, tests love, and influenced politics. The topic is controversial, the characters evolve and the dialogue is witty- it will indeed leave viewers talking.
Angels is set in the mid 1980's as the modern world first discovers the AIDS virus and devastating effects. The nation, terrified of the virus, faces the unknown circumstances surrounding the disease and their denial to accept homosexuality. Characters explore and discover themselves, love, tragedy and how politics can spin the world. "It is the job of theatre to explore and depict the controversy we as humans face in our lives," says Medici, "and Angels does that very poignantly."
The play's author, Tony Kushner, drew upon historical figures and situations when writing this play. Two central Angels characters are Roy Cohn and Ethel Rosenberg. Kusher issues an up front disclaimer that these characters are works of dramatic fiction and he has taken liberties. However, we can be certain that their attributes and actions are very close to the Cohn and Rosenberg's real lives. Cohn, a power mongering Republican lawyer prosecuted Ethel Rosenberg, who was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death. Cohn, who died of AIDS in 1986, vehemently denied that he was gay and that he had AIDS. In Angels, Cohn does deny these charges, and struggles to come to terms with his homosexuality.
Angels opened on Broadway in 1993, and subsequently took home numerous Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Keeping true to Kusher's original vision, Waterman Theatre's set and design are minimal, pulling the viewer deeper into the inner struggle of the characters and the sharp dialogue. Portraying the dark nature of this play, the theatre canvas will be of only black, white and gray. The grayscale tones are to dramatize the struggles of good versus evil and the disparity of the characters.
Labeled "A Gay Fantasia on National Themes", Angels in America is for mature audiences. Audiences are cautioned that the performance includes mature themes, language, smoking, sexual situations and nudity.
Angels marks the conclusion for longtime theater faculty members Ron Medici and Bill Stark. As an instructor and mentor in lighting and set design, Stark will retire at the end of the semester after 32 years of service to the Oswego campus. This is the last season for director Ron Medici as well. Medici will be the "Guest Director" for the Waterman Summer Theatre's production of The King and I in July before leaving Oswego after 22 years. Special tribute will be paid to both Medici and Stark at the Angels in America opening night reception.
A preview performance will be held on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. with a general admission price of $4. Performances on April 25, 26, 28 and 29 are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students and $6 for Oswego State University students with a valid ID. An opening night reception will be held on Wednesday, April 25 and is by invitation only.
Images from rehearsals & set construction
Some links with more information about Tony Kushner's Angels in America: