A few comments on PERESTROIKA

After a rather underwhelming "Millennium Approaches," it is the second half of ANGELS IN AMERICA, "Perestroika" that really delivers the goods. Michael Grief has staged a breathless, breathtaking production that allows the cast, all eight members, and Kushner's text to shine. And it's the quickest 4 hours I've ever spent in a theater.

While it would be hard to pick "stand-outs," I will say that Christian Borle is incandescent as Part II Prior (as opposed to Part I Prior, where I felt he wasn't acerbic enough). Zoe Kazan and Frank Wood also make up for their less than satisfying work int he first half. Bill Heck, Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto, Robin Bartlett and Robin Weigert are all quite good, as well.

I was surprised by how fluid Grief's production is, considering I've always felt that most of Part II isn't stage-able. Color me wrong.

(I also must say how surprised I was by the amount of nudity there was, however brief. Both moments, Joe nude on the beach, and Harper topless while asking Joe what he sees, were especially powerful.)

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 12:49 AM

I blame your belief that Prior isn't acerbic enough in Millennium on Justin Kirk damage. I am so glad this production exists for so many reasons, not least of which is it can serve as an antidote to some of the serious missteps of the movie, which is all many people have ever seen.

---

I saw both parts a week ago today. I have been sitting with my feelings about it for a week. I have not composed a full out discussion because I don't want to do spoilers, but there have been substantial changes to Perestroika that, combined with Grief's fluid direction, make it sail by, clear as could possibly be. I also find myself resisting talking about it much because there are only a few tickets left for a few of the performances of Perestroika in February. That's it.

Both parts are among the finest theatrical events I have seen in my life. Borle is perfect, the last scene works in ways I never thought it could. Quinto does the best diner scene I have ever seen, and I've seen many actors perform that role, including Joe Mantello and Dan Futterman. This production revealed to me how subtle shifts make the focus different and demonstrate the flexibility of the work, like the way perspectives shift while looking at any work of art from a new angle.

---

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 01:36 AM

I saw the Perestroika matinee yesterday, and I disagree about it being better than Millennium Approaches (which I saw the night before). I thought Part 1 was so much more fluid and directed in a far less heavy-handed way. Acts 1 and 3 of Part 2 were not as guided as the entirety of Part 1 was. In fact, Act 2 of Part 2 was the only time Perestroika felt natural or even compelling to me (with the exception of the final scene in Act 1 between Louis and Joe). I thought that the scene in Act 3 with the angels of the principalities was completely misguided. Greif tried to make a strong choice there, but it didn't really work out for him. All in all, the acting was excellent, but I was let down by the direction.

I actually disagree about Christian Borle (whom I though was excellent in Part 2, Act 3). I thought he was excellent overall in Part 1, but the first 2 parts of Part 2 felt over the top to me. Also Kazan blew me away in Part 1, but then lost momentum in Part 2, Act 1. Luckily she gained it back by Acts 2 and 3 of Perestroika, in time for her BRILLIANT final scene on the airplane. The consistent standouts through the whole two-part series for me were Bill Heck, Zach Quinto, Billy Porter, and Robin Bartlett. The only one who I didn't like at all ever was Frank Wood. I constantly felt like he was acting rather than BEING.

In any case, I loved the whole thing overall, but I would give Part One 5 stars and Part Two 3.5 stars.

So glad to hear good things about Christian. I'm dying to see what he does with this!

I was also at the matinee. Didn't see Leibman, but Michael Grief and his associates were in my row busily scribbling notes. And Kushner was there for at least part of Act One.

Regarding the time, I rounded up, but I was on the street at 10 to 6.

Center of row E. I was on the aisle.