Signature's "Angels in America" Discussion Thread — Page 2

I've never heard that before about Kushner considering Joe a villain in the play. I can see how he could be interpreted that way - embarking on a dalliance with Louis knowing full well that Louis had a partner who was sick and needed him....stringing Harper along because he had a need for her companionship even though he wasn't in love with her...but I would never say he was more of a villain than Roy.

I also appreciate your analysis Katurian. I guess I never looked at Joe's plight at the end of the way that way before. I guess in a way, the absence of so much could be viewed as closure for Joe. He just seemed to me - and maybe this was due in part to Heck's interpretation of the role - that he was more lost and angst-ridden at the end of the play than he was at the beginning. Maybe I just have an aversion to things that are open-ended. I don't get the impression that Joe moves forward to a productive, fulfilling future. I get the sense that, having been burned by his tryst with Louis and his misguided attempt to accept himself for who he is, he retreats back into the closet and becomes even more riven with self doubt. In that way, I agree with your assessment that he sheds his skin too early and for the wrong reason.

Intrigued by what the new cast may bring to the table, especially the new Harper. Zoe showed glimmers of greatness but I was left really unimpressed by her.

Zach was fantastic and yes gorgeous, but his off stage persona is far too arogant and diva like for me, he looks down at the "little people" unless you are a fan who is kissing his ass. His acting is good, him as a person is vile.

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Updated On: 1/31/11 at 08:01 PM

"I guess he is nasty and looks right through the crew of Angels"

Well, that sounds iron-clad reliable to me.

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The friend I saw AiA with was wondering why the angels all referred to themselves as 'I...I...I...' -- is this a biblical reference, or does anyone know where that phrasing comes from? Thanks

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I always thought the "I-I-I-I" was a speech impediment, a sort of stammer that all the Angels share. I've heard references (I don't remember if they're Kushner's) to "ineffectual angels" who "stand around in heaven stammering 'I-I-I-I' because they have no idea". It sort of fits in with the idea that the angels are extremely aloof and ineffectual and have no idea how to deal with the problems on Earth.

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The way that Frank Wood and even Zoe Kazan played the angels in the last heaven scene for sure support the speech impediment interpretation. Wood did something where he sucked his breath in for the whole series of I's that was pretty neat. It would also go to serve the issue that angels prefer the stasis and it takes them such a long period of time to decide or act on anything.

I've never heard that interpretation before though- very neat and interesting idea!

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Well I think that at first when Prior says he loves her, Louis has left at that point. Whether you're reading the play with the interpretation that it is 'real' or Prior's fever dream, if would make sense that Prior 'loves' her in part because Louis has abandoned him, but the Angel is sticking around.

haha- I think plasma orgasmata is meant to be a joke line, but it goes along with the Angel's whole, "The body is the garden of the soul," and the explanation of the angels' history that they copulated ceaselessly before God left them for humans. I've never really thought about it on any advanced level before.... but could it be that it reflects developments in Prior's own life. His own story relates to the Angels' in that he was left by Louis and they were left by God- the man that got away. Before he got AIDS, Prior was also able to 'copulate ceaselessly' - well nearso- but then the earthquake happened/AIDS happened and God/Louis left and the earth/Prior's body began to devolve into decay and chaos. Sex and orgasms are the cultivation of the soul that is sort of a throwback to lighter days.

I do like to read the play with the split intention that both it did all 'actually happen' and also with the idea that everything that happens to Prior is a parable he creates to reflect his own ordeal. I think there are mirroring occurrences between him and the Angel as stated above, even though, along with the very prospect of 'Stasis,' the Angel is one of the primary villains of the play. (Along with Roy)

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Updated On: 2/2/11 at 11:24 PM

haha- and all the fluorocarbons in the atmosphere!

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Any word on the replacements yet?

I'm-a be marathoning it next Wednesday.

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Kat, u r a doll, and just for you, there will be a full report.

<3 <3

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