Even without being told, we understand that these are a memorial to the fallen.
This moving production of Larry Kramer’s play details the emergence of AIDs in 1980s New York, a horrifying period where nothing was known about the disease and the fight was not even for a cure but simply for people to take notice.
Firebrands such as activist Ned Weeks (Jarrad West) and doctor Emma Brookner (Jordan Best) realise early in the epidemic that the disease is sexually transmitted. But they face intransigence from the government, the media and even the gay community itself, where frenetic promiscuity is a mark of pride.
The play also focuses on the shortcomings of the activists who tried to get the public to pay attention. West’s Ned Weeks is driven and vengeful, butting up against those who favour a measured, palliative approach like the charismatic but closeted Bruce Niles (Chris Zuber).
Director Karen Vickery brings out the human cost of the epidemic, particularly when one of the main characters contracts the disease and editorials and protests are replaced with the simple, pragmatic business of preparing for death.
While the subject matter is bleak, the play is leavened with a lot of humour that keeps the mood from becoming too dark and there are vital moments of hope and redemption.
Everyman Theatre’s production is a living memorial to the AIDs crisis, furious at both those who would not take notice and those who could not change. But the play is not a simple polemic, it is also richly informed and touching character drama.
Who can be trusted?
In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.
If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.
Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.
Thank you,
Ian Meikle, editor
Leave a Reply