Reviewed by Judy Richter
Now Berkeley Repertory Theatre is staging a more recent work, "The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures." While it doesn't equal the power and fascination of "Angels," it nevertheless is absorbing and often humorous throughout most of its three hours and 40 minutes (including two 15-minute intermissions).
The title itself reflects Kushner's wide-ranging intellect, referring to playwright George Bernard Shaw's nonfiction "The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism" and Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy's "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
The play, however, is primarily a family drama set in the Brooklyn brownstone of the Marcantonio family in 2007. The sister of the Italian American family's patriarch, 72-year-old Gus (Mark Margolis), has gathered his three adult children and their significant others because he wants to sell the house and commit suicide. He says he's developing Alzheimer's. It later turns out that Gus, a retired longshoreman, former Marxist and labor leader, also has grown disenchanted with the 21st century.
Although his announced intention is the catalyst for the play, it also focuses on relationships within the family and between the children and others, starting with his son Pill (Lou Liberatore). He's a history teacher who recently moved to Minneapolis with his longtime lover and now husband, Paul (Tyrone Mitchell Henderson). The couple moved from New York because of Pill's romantic relationship with a young hustler, Eli (Jordan Geiger).
Gus's only daughter is Empty (her real name is Maria Teresa, or MT), a lawyer played by Deirdre Lovejoy. Her wife, Maeve (Liz Wisan), is eight months pregnant with sperm from Empty's other brother, Vito (Joseph J. Parks), a contractor, who is married to Sooze (Tina Chilip). Empty's former husband, Adam (Anthony Fusco), lives in the home's basement apartment.
Completing the family circle is Gus's taciturn sister, Clio (Randy Danson), a former nun who does social work in the slums of nearby Patterson, N.J. The only outside character is Gus's friend Shelle (Robynn Rodriguez), who appears briefly in Act 3 and details how he can kill himself.
There's a great deal of angst, argument and political philosophy as events unfold. Often everyone talks at once, but does anyone listen?
Directed by BRT artistic director Tony Taccone, the acting is excellent and most of the characters are sharply etched, but Kushner hasn't developed some as well as others.
Christopher Barecca's set design features the two-level brownstone and other locations that are slid or lowered into place. Completing the design team are Alexander V. Nichols, lighting; Jake Rodriguez, sound; and Meg Neville, costumes.
Even though Taccone does his best to keep the action flowing and Kushner has revised the play since its 2009 premiere in Minneapolis, it still could benefit from revisions. Some scenes, especially those involving Pill and Eli, are too long. Some of the secondary characters, such as Sooze and Maeve, need more fleshing out. Some plot developments seem abrupt.
In short, Kushner weaves a rich tapestry, as he always does, but this one has some loose threads.