“The great work begins!” Prior Walter, a character with AIDS who stays defiantly alive, proclaimed at the end of “Angels in America” when it debuted 25 years ago on Broadway. By the time Prior says it again, now portrayed by Andrew Garfield, in the first Broadway revival of Tony Kushner’s ambitious, unruly, remarkable play, we in the audience are once again inspired, and touched, and exhausted.
In the current production at the Neil Simon Theatre, which originated in London’s National Theatre, “Angels in America” remains compelling. It is very funny and moving and smart. It is also overwhelming and sprawling – more than seven hours, spread out over two parts, Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, with separate admissions — and at times inaccessibly esoteric.
In an era when AIDS is no longer a death sentence and a different Kushner is often in the news, “Angels in America” is nevertheless in some ways surprisingly timely too….

Full review on DC Theatre Scene

Click on any photograph to see it enlarged, and to read the caption.

Nathan Lane as Roy Cohn still angling and berating from his death bed in Angels in America: Perestroika

James McArdle as Lou the leftist Jew and Lee Pace as Joe the Mormon Republican in Angels in America

Susan Brown as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, whom Roy Cohn made sure was executed. She now gloats at his deathbed.

Susan Brown as Hannah Pitt, the Mormon mother of Joe Pitt, the Republican lawyer who calls her up with a confession.

James McArdle as Louis Ironson, who abandons his lover Prior when Prior reveals he has AIDS

Nathan Lane as the nasty dying Roy Cohn and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as his nurse, a black gay ex drag queen.

Andrew Garfield (center) as the current Prior Walter, surrounded by Lee Pace and Nathan Lane as his ancestors, also named Prior Walter. Hallucination…or visitation?

Amanda Lawrence as the tattered Angel in America

Andrew Garfield as Prior, in terror

Denise Gough as Harper Pitt and Lee Pace as her husband Joe Pitt, Mormons who are unhappy in New York.

Denise Gough as Harper taking a trip (in her head) to Antarctica where she chats with Mr. Lies (portrayed by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett)

Lee Pace as Joe Pitt, a Mormon Republican lawyer who comes out of the closet.

James McArdle as Lou and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Belize in one of their many disagreements.

Andrew Garfield as Prior and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as his former lover and current caretaker.

Nathan Lane as Roy Cohn and Susan Brown as Harry, Cohn’s doctor, whom he’s threatening after he’s told him he has AIDS

James McArdle as Joe and Andrew Garfield as his ex lover Prior

Denise Gough and Lee Pace as Mr and Mrs. Pitt

Angels in America Millennium Approaches

Denise Gough as Harper Pitt

“The great work begins” says Prior (Andrew Garfield) with friends at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, in Angels in America