Theatre / The Inheritance, Parts 1 & 2, written by Matthew Lopez, directed by Jarrad West At the ACT Hub,  Kingston, until November 2. Reviewed by LEN POWER.

Inspired by EM Forster’s novel, Howard’s End, the past, present and future collide in Matthew Lopez’s play about love and legacy in the queer community.

Focusing on a young group of friends in New York from about 2015, the play moves back and forth in time, showing how the past shapes and informs their current existence as well as their future.

Eric is a New York City lawyer trying to keep his family’s apartment; his boyfriend, Toby, is a successful but abrasive writer, living in a state of denial. From there, a web of touching and heartbreaking stories unfolds, remembering the dead and calling on the living to keep looking forward. Forster himself is on hand to offer comment and advice.

Lopez keeps the story moving swiftly with literate dialogue and deeply etched characters. The characters self-narrate, giving a theatrical immediacy and style to the play that is highly effective. Gay politics, past and present, and the AIDS crisis are discussed, as well as class divisions, personal survival, healing and a sense of belonging, while America faces a troubling future.

Director Jarrad West and his ensemble cast of 13 bring this stirring play brilliantly to life. A central, square, main acting area is reminiscent of a boxing ring where the battles of life take place. Raised levels either side cleverly represent other rooms and locations.

James McMahon gives a calmly sensitive and moving performance as the lawyer, Eric. Joel Horwood is superb as the self-destructive writer, Toby, and Andrew Macmillan skilfully plays the two roles of Adam and Leo, both men damaged emotionally in different ways.

There is also fine work from Rhys Robinson as businessman, Henry, and Karen Vickery as Margaret, the mother of an AIDS victim.

Duncan Driver plays Morgan (EM Forster) with a wry and matter of fact elegance, as well as another key character in the story, Walter. Both parts are played by Driver with skill and a notable warmth.

The rest of the cast play a kind of Greek chorus throughout the play, commenting and pushing the narrative forward, but they also have their individual character moments to shine.

This epic play in two parts is a highly memorable and emotional theatrical experience. It’s a story set in the queer community, but its message of love, loss, hope and healing will resonate with everyone.

The Inheritance play takes its time to get there