The Normal Heart; 1f, 8m
Originally published in 1985 and celebrated in a passionate and eloquent 2011 Broadway revival, this definitive edition of Larry Kramer's play features an updated version of the script, as well as notes on both the original production and the revival.
A searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man's lonely fight to awaken the world to the crisis, The Normal Heart was based on Kramer's real-life experience. Produced to acclaim in New York, London and Los Angeles, the play centers on Ned Weeks, a gay activist enraged at the indifference of public officials and the gay community. While trying to save the world from itself, Ned confronts the personal toll of AIDS when his lover dies of the disease.
posted by Larisa at 12:05 PM
6 Comments:
I flew through this script, and my attention was captivated the entire time. This play is an important record of the suffering and intergroup conflicts facing the gay community during the AIDS crisis, with an intersectional view of Judaism as well. The action and dialogue are well-paced, and the characters have strong development in their storylines. I think we should definitely consider this for S73 or future seasons.
Well written. Very interesting and compelling perspective on that time in history. I do feel like it is long. It took me almost an hour to read it and I am a fast reader. I am also a bit concerned about casting this many queer men AND a women who uses a wheel-chair.
I thought I commented on this already. It was a very good script and one of the better plays we have read involving the LGBTQ community. Characters were well developed and very relatable. I vote yes to consider it.
A well-done historical drama dealing with the AIDS crisis. I would consider it a period piece. I suspect today's younger audiences may not have much knowledge about the deadly AIDS epidemic, the hesitation by the government to become involved, and the gay community to abstain from sex when it became clear that gay sex was the likely mode of transmission. I vote to keep it in the mix.
I had trouble finishing it without skimming. It felt boring, too long, and well past it's prime. A big no from me.
I remember being very impressed with this play when I first saw it in the 1980s and it was so agonizingly timely. I can recall so vividly what the AIDS epidemic was like back in those early days. HBO did an excellent film version back in 2014. And the National Theater in London did a successful production in 2021. It appears to have been last produced here in the Cities in 2016. So, it continues to be a powerful period piece. Would I personally want to sit through it again? Probably not. Is it worth being done? Yes. I would agree that we should keep it in the mix.
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