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304
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1980s
1993
Adult
18+ years
Angels in America by Tony Kushner spans 1985 to 1986 in New York, following the lives of interconnected characters dealing with AIDS, sexuality, politics, religion, and mental illness. Gay couple Prior and Louis face Prior's AIDS diagnosis. Mormon couple Harper and Joe struggle with Harper's mental health and Joe's hidden sexuality. Ambitious lawyer Joe is mentored by powerful yet unscrupulous Roy Cohn.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Inspirational
Emotional
Contemplative
Angels in America by Tony Kushner is hailed for its ambitious exploration of AIDS, sexuality, and politics in 1980s America. Critics praise its rich, complex characters and bold intertwining of the personal with the political. However, some consider its narrative structure overly sprawling. Overall, it's deemed a seminal, thought-provoking work in contemporary theater.
Readers who relish profound, politically infused dramas with complex character studies would enjoy Angels in America by Tony Kushner. Fans of Beloved by Toni Morrison or The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer, who appreciate narratives addressing social and personal struggles amidst historical backdrops, will find this work compelling.
Louis Ironson
A white, Jewish, gay man struggling with guilt and conflict avoidance, whose decisions and relationships drive much of the narrative's emotional tension.
Joe Pitt
A white, Mormon, closeted gay lawyer whose internal conflict between personal identity and societal expectations causes upheaval in his marriage and career.
Harper Pitt
Joe’s wife, a white Mormon woman coping with mental illness and addiction, escaping her troubled reality through vivid hallucinations.
Roy Cohn
A fictionalized version of the historical lawyer, portrayed as powerful and ruthless, whose interactions reveal his complex humanity and societal impact.
Belize
A Black gay man, nurse, and former drag queen, who provides compassionate support to those around him while navigating the racial and political complexities of his environment.
Hannah Pitt
Joe's mother, a straightforward and sometimes stern Mormon woman who relocates to New York, ultimately forming a connection with a new community.
The Angel
A mysterious, powerful figure representing divine intervention, whose presence and messages influence the characters' journeys and decisions.
304
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1980s
1993
Adult
18+ years
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