Review: The Normal Heart

[eanor]

So I went to the staged reading of "The Normal Heart" by Larry Kramer yesterday - and it was really good! :-D Most of the time you didn't even notice it was a staged reading instead of a normal play because the actors very fantastic! (And well, they did play properly most of the time. Not just sitting there reading...)

Comments

[daasgrrl]

I'm just going to pipe in and say I actually saw that play IN the (late) 80s, lol. It was intense - remembering that then AIDS was effectively a death sentence, which isn't so much the case now. Even being gay was still a pretty big deal.

It's interesting that you mentioned how 'straightforward' it was too. I'd have to agree - for the most part things in general weren't ironic or tricksy then, they were pretty earnest. Both due to the subject matter, and you know, living under the threat of nuclear annihilation and all *g*

[eanor]

Thanks for your opinion and your historical perspective! That's very interesting to hear! :-) I can imagine that the play was a much bigger deal in the actual 80s. Though it still felt very intense even today.

And you're right - it does feel like all the tricky and clever storytelling is a pretty recent phenomenon. Is that a postmodern thing? (I'm never sure on terminology...) For this play, I think the straightforwardness worked okay. As you said, the subject doesn't really lend itself to tricky plots and I suppose the earnestness helps to make the play feel emotional. When you have to think too much to actually get the play, it might not be as touching?