"Angels" soars on strong acting

Show goes on in face of outcry by groups opposed to homosexual themes of play

April 23, 2007 —

by Christina Dillbeck

Criminal justice and theatre junior Bethany Champion applies makeup to theatre senior Chad Baker, while theatre senior Chad Helmer colors the hair of theatre sophomore Tyler Frank.

by Adam Baudoux

Theatre senior Colleen Cartwright attaches her beard for her role as Rabbi Isidor.

Despite some controversy, SVSU's theatre department put on an exceptionally well-acted rendition of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America Part I: Millenium Approaches" on Friday.

Upon entering the Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts, I was immediately impressed by the set. A nice likeness of the Brooklyn Bridge served as the backdrop, along with something I haven't seen in a play before: two suspended screens which displayed background information on the setting before the show started (although the text was small and difficult to read), and pictures of the setting and indications of intermissions and what acts were on during the play itself.

The first act introduces the audience to most of the main characters, along with bad news many o fthem receive, true to the act's title, "Bad News." Coupled with the somewhat melancholy music being played at the beginning of the show, I felt like this was going to be an altogether gloomy production.

As it got going though, I was pleasantly surprised by the humor of "Angels." Theatre junior Tyler Frank's introductory scene as Roy M. Cohn was particularly funny to me. Frank was one of the many performers who I found to be very impressive throughout the production.

Theatre freshman Caleb Knutson and theatre junior Chad Baker also put on very strong performances as Prior Walter and Louis Ironson, a homosexual couple who have discovered that Prior has AIDS. Scenes in which the two of them were alone in the first two acts were some of the strongest and most emotional in the play.

I did note that after the completion of all three acts, this is a very long play. Intermissions included, it is three hours long, if not longer. However, I didn't find this to be a weakness. I was entertained and interested throughout the entirety of the production. The performances and the plot made the time fly. In fact, many movies that are under two hours feel longer than this.

This is a highly recommended performance. Much has been made of its content in recent weeks, but worse can be found in the majority of R-rated movies that are opening nearby every week. While it isn't appropriate for children, that's why there is a minimum age for admittance.

Assistant Professor of Theatre Ric Roberts, who directed the production, thought it turned out "very well." From an acting standpoint, he said that it might have been the cast and crew's "best one yet."

Knutson said the play was a learning experience.

"We've all evolved over this entire experience as actors," he said. "It went amazing."

The audience also seemed pleased with the performances, evident by the uproarious laughter during many of the play's comedic moments.

"I really liked it," said theatre junior Danielle Schoeny. "The actors did a good job at portraying the characters and bringing them to life in a realistic way."