Reviews

This play was unlike any play that I've ever experienced before. Even than part I. This book was more extreme for me, more extreme in the content as well as in what I liked and disliked. I loved Prior in this. I had no idea what would become of him post Millennium, but I certainly never imagined this as being the outcome. But he was fascinating. Quite fantastical, but he had incredibly insightful things to say about people--obviously self-indulgent preachy moments from the author, but I'm not mad.

Belize was also incredibly enjoyable, as usual. One of the best moments of Millennium is when Louis is going on his (8 minute) rant and Belize interrupts him and calls him out. So sassy, so great. And he continues all of that characterization in this one, but becomes more of a real, central character rather than a sideshow. I was so glad to see that.

Aside from Belize's relationships with Prior and Louis, my favorite friendship was definitely Prior and Hannah. So unlikely--didn't see it coming at all--but ironic and funny. And improved Hannah in a rather believable way.

I don't know why the angel stuff had to be sexual. Maybe that was saying something about society, but I just thought it was a bit much. Led to some funny lines between Belize and Prior, but that wasn't enough to make up for it being a totally random idea from the playwright. Assuredly not random to him; Tony Kushner is a thoughtful playwright if nothing else, but I don't yet understand.

Harper and Joe both kind of dissolved for me. Joe seemed to grow in himself, as he was experimenting with his sexuality, but we don't see his relationship with Louis. We hear him say that he loves him, but that's just impossible to believe. And then the 'resolution' with Harper doesn't feel like much at all and certainly not a resolution. And that's all that he leaves us with. Though I'm sure that was on purpose as well, though it's frustrating to a person like me. The most interesting thing that happened with Joe here was when he told the truth to Roy. And Harper was just...crazy. I liked whenever she and Prior met, and she did have some insightful things to say at times, but I wish there would have been something real grounded in her. Maybe there was, but it was just too hard to find.

Act V scene 9 was something remarkable. I know that it was an optional scene; it would probably be cut in most productions. It was less than a page long, but there was something profound in it for me. It almost seemed like Roy's purpose was created by God and it all lead up to that meeting. I don't know why it struck me so poignantly, but I loved that scene.

Overall, I think some of this play was beyond me. But I liked finally seeing what happened to these characters that I got to know nearly 2 years ago when I was involved in Millennium. I hope one day I'll understand it better, maybe I would just have to be of that time as an adult in the 80s-90s. But I wasn't. So maybe I'll never know. But maybe I will. We'll see.