'Angels in America' leaves lasting impact

I had never been to the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia before, and I had no idea what the play I was going to see was about.

I knew it was called “Angels in America,” and I figured out from the displays of old newspaper articles in the theater lobby that it had something to do with AIDS.

Yet it was probably better to go into “Angels in America,” written by playwright Tony Kushner, with an open mind, because no summarized description could have done justice to the complex web of relationships, confusion and revelation to come.

“Angels in America” is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and since its Broadway debut in 1993, has been a powerful commentary on homosexuals, politics, religion and society in America.

Due to its seven-hour duration, the play is broken into two parts: “Millennium Approaches,” which is the part I saw, and “Perestroika,” which will open at the Wilma in September.

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Set in 1985, the play depicts the lives of four gay men and those around them as they struggle through relationships, politics and, most significantly, AIDS. Gay couple Louis and Prior begin falling apart when Prior reveals he has AIDS. Devout Mormon Joe Pitt struggles with his wife Harper’s Valium addiction, as well as his own personal demons. And big-time lawyer Roy Cohn works to manipulate others to his benefit while turning a blind eye to his own problems.

While it would seem this heavy subject matter would call for a dark, gloomy forecast and pockets full of Kleenex, Kushner’s writing manages to retain a humanity and sense of humor that keeps the hope of both the characters and the audience alive.

The absurd, Valium-induced hallucinations of Harper, the witty political banter between Louis and his ex-boyfriend, ex-drag queen Belize, and even the dark, sarcastic comments of Prior regarding his disease keep the audience laughing throughout the show.

Yet this does not take away from the harsh realities of death, betrayal and self-delusion that are some of the play’s major themes. The show deals with the horrors of AIDS and the pain both victim and partner must go through. In addition, it confronts the difficulties of coming out and the effect this can have on a person’s relationships with those they love.

It shows how self-denial can become self-destruction, and can cause people to lash out at homosexuals in order to cover up for their own confused feelings.

For me, the characters in this show gave these types of problems a human face, allowing me to grasp their real significance rather than just imagining them as general issues I would most likely never face myself.

“Angels in America,” while confronting major social and political themes of the 1980s, remains relevant now in its messages about both our society and being human. It gave me a new perspective on the lives of homosexual people in America, as well as the effect of AIDS on the way we view sex and relationships.

But most of all, I connected on a human level with all of the characters, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, political allegiance or anything else. Their feelings of confusion toward their lives’ paths, their questions about love and what it means — these are things we all feel.

“Millennium Approaches” closed Sunday, but will be staged several times during the run of “Perestroika” in September and October. It’s definitely worth seeing.

Gay, straight or unsure, “Angels in America” has the power to bring all of us a sense of connection and companionship in a world full of uncertainties.

Part I of “Angels in America,” “Millennium Approaches,” closed Sunday. Part II, “Perestroika,” opens in previews Sept. 12 and runs Sept. 19 through Oct. 21. (“Millennium Approaches” will also be staged on select days during the run.) Information: www.wilmatheater.org.