92nd Street Y tribute to Larry Kramer - 10.24.04

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:44pm

Just got home.... bear with me. I feel like I need to discuss this, and no one around here actually cares, so I'm using this as a release. You all know how I felt about The Normal Heart, and remember all of those nights I fell asleep at 3, 4 in the morning reading the play, hugging it, so I'll spare you the sentiments and get right to tonight, if you're even going to bother to read this at all.

The first part was a series of readings from a variety of Kramer's works: plays, novels, essays, speeches, letters, etc. I think there were about nine people who did them... truly incredible people: Jeff Whitty, John Cameron Mitchell (what a pleasant surprise to see him! Didn't expect that one.), Craig Lucas, Edie Falco, Jason Biggs, Raul Esparza.... immense talent. All of the readings were phenomenally done. Kramer's writing style is stunning - I am definitely going to read more of his work after this. The highlight, of course: Raul. This, under no circumstances, was an experience about just seeing Raul. It was about seeing the impecable actor that he is, and about seeing him take on this part one last time. Edie Falco read the scene setting for the part he was going to do (the scene between Ned and Bruce - scene 13 of The Normal Heart, I think - in the empty room, where Bruce tells Ned the board has voted to kick him out) and she said that the characters were Bruce Niles and Ned Weeks. The second the words "Ned Weeks" were spoken, Raul looked up and snapped right back into character, those beautiful, piercing eyes darting about, as if no time at all had passed since the last performance. It was exactly as it had been, except that he was seated in a chair. Jason Biggs read for Bruce. It was as equally heartbreaking as it had ever been - and Raul didn't just read. He poured everything he had into this, just as he always does. He also did a scene from The Destiny of Me with Edie Falco as Ned's mother and John Cameron Mitchell as Alexander - also phenomenal. There's some singing in the script, so Raul and John sang a bit... added bonus.

The second part was a discussion between Larry Kramer and Tony Kushner. I don't know - not that what I'm about to say isn't cliche - if I'll ever be able to describe this, or how I felt seeing these two up there in front of me. Angels in America changed my life, as did The Normal Heart. I can not believe that tonight I had the privilege to be in the presence of these two beautiful, passionate people, so full of brilliance and genius. Kramer is exactly like his alter-ego in The Normal Heart. He's edgy, fierce, intense, and angry, but in split second he can speak with passion and poise, too. He and Tony Kushner have some very opposed views on certain issues, but they have a very close, very special bond. They spoke about the election, about the state of theatre, about Larry Kramer's future as a playwright... so many things that I will never forget hearing from the two of them.

Okay, I think I'm done for now. An enormous thank you needs to go out to Corine, without whom I never would've gotten to experience this. You have no idea how grateful I am.

Updated On: 10/25/04 at 11:44 PM

[TGIF]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:49pm

I am so glad you were able to experience this Emcee. I felt so bad telling you that I couldnt go (because this would have been amazing to see!) I can only imagine how it was seeing TNH done, if only in segments, again. I know you were truely baffled and upset when it closed so suddenly.

On a lighter, less serious note, what happened to the Raul accents? :) Also, Jason Biggs was there, how come?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:50pm

Re: Accents.... I'm on my laptop. I can't get them on here.

[Britt0913]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:51pm

GREAT NIGHT!
Chrys, it was nice to finally meet you.

I'm too tired to review my night.......IT WAS TOO GOOD FOR WORDS.

[insomniak]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 11:54pm

I'm glad it was good.

Check the birthday thread, accents are explained. You can get them on a laptop.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 12:46am

Wow...all I can say is wow!
Britt! It was nice to meet you too!
Wow...still stuck on wow!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 11:06am

lol, Chrys, that's where I was for a while. My mom called me this morning and asked how it was. It went something like last night's conversation with Cara: "I um um... I.. um..." Of course Cara's response was "yes, I know. I get it." My mom was like "um, yes?" I tried to explain to her what it was like to see Kushner and Kramer together, but I gave up... still can't. I fell asleep last night with my copy of The Normal Heart and The Destiny of Me again. I read until about two, then I was gone.

Updated On: 10/25/04 at 11:06 AM

[Britt0913]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 11:29am

emcee, you should have heard me on my phone outside of the Y right after I left you and Chrys! It was hysterical, I was telling my dad and he was like "Are you okay?" and I was like "Uh-huh!" and babbling on like an idiot.

Great night!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 2:39pm

I'm still in shock from last night. Whoa, it was major.
I did however, expect to wake up this morning and read a "7 public buses burned overnight by gays who were acting on behalf of Larry Kramer" headline.
Aww, Cara! I wish you could have been there.
It was unbelievable. I can't really explain it. Man, I'm so greatful for that experience, you just don't even know. If I looked back to four years ago (the first time I stepped foot in Manhattan), I never would have thought that I'd be at this place in my life. And, well, here I am. And there we were. And there it was. The truth. Not sugar coated, or lightened up, but the full frontal truth. I've grown more in the past few months that I've been here than I have in my almost 23 years of life.
I know you can imagine a music theory midterm was not very easy to take this morning! How are the papers going, ladies?!

[Britt0913]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 4:43pm

Yeah, mine's still not done!

Although, can u blame me?
Updated On: 10/25/04 at 04:43 PM

[Britt0913]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 5:04pm

How was ur midterm, Chrys?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 5:17pm

LOL!
Oh, it was a disaster. I could not focus at all. I definately know my gift to this world is not my composition capabilities. I'd much rather sing what other people have written.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 5:21pm

Paper? What paper?

Oh, yes. That one... it's um... done.

[Britt0913]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 5:26pm

Yea, that was convincing.....

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 12:51pm

It exists. That's all that can be expected, no? At at the expense of... well, this was too important to miss becuase of a silly paper that my professor isn't even going to read.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 12:59pm

so glad you had such a great time, emcee. wish i could have mad it. oh well, someday i will meet tony kushner- someday, someway, somehow.

[Alix]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 1:16pm

Thanks for the post Emcee, sounds like an incredible night. I love all your detailed reports but they make me jealous!! :)

Alix

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 2:37pm

aw, I'm sorry Alix! But thanks! nystate, I'm so sad you couldn't have come with me - you were one of the first people I thought to ask. I know you would've loved to be there. Another time, for sure!

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 9:44pm

I love how you have the opportunity to attend these kind of events, and I love being able to live vicariously through you all. Thank you for the review!

[mbjts]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 10:21pm

I never got to witness THE NORMAL HEART, but I did see (a couple of times) THE DESTINY OF ME, and it is forever embedded in my heart!

I'm no longer in the NYC area, but I thank you for your report on this event.