luvtheEmcee- I had a really similar reaction. I was completely floored. I had rented it from Blockbuster and planned to watch an Episode a day. I couldn't stop watching it and finished the first three hours. The next day... well, lets just say I pity the people I know... I constantly talked about it. I tried to recreate the scenes for them (yeah... didn't turn out too well) and explain to them the impact it had on me.
I saw "Millenium Approaches" at a matinee and "Perestroika" at an evening performance on the same day so it's hard for me to separate them into two different plays. To me it's all "Angels In America" and a brilliant day of theatre.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
I did notice one thing about Tony Kushner's writing style while watching the movie and having ejoyed the Caroline, or Change obcr. It's that he puts all these fascinating historical facts and probably his own thoughts about them through the characters. I dont know how to explain it, but you can really tell that he has his own style.
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
you're not going to do any better than that. I know, I know, "the magic of theater" is always more powerful than film, and it would still be interesting to see new interpretations and yada, yada, yada...but seriously, no one's ever going to be able to top it.
I don't know about that. From many accounts on this board who saw both the film and stage versions, the HBO movie version paled in comparison to the original Broadway production. I wasn't lucky enough to see the stage show, but everyone I've conversed about this topic have said that the Nichols' film was largely missing the comedic energy of the play, and Justin Kirk's performance is a grave misinterpretation of Prior.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."