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July 28, 2006
Playing the perfect character
Seattle actor jumped at the chance to star in Angels in America.
STEPHANIE RAMSAY
Jewish actor Alan Goldwasser doesn't seem to mind being typecast.
In fact, when Hoarse Raven Theatre offered him the role of anxiety-ridden
Jew Louis Ironson in their production of Tony Kushner's Angels
in America, he jumped at the chance.
"Very few scripts come your way with a character seemingly
written for your genetic/ethnic make-up," the Seattle-based
actor told the Independent in an e-mail interview. As well, added
Goldwasser, "as cliché as it sounds, the producer/director
team of Hoarse Raven Theatre made me an offer I could not refuse."
Angels in America – first published 1992 – is about
the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the United States. The play
focuses on a group of New Yorkers in the mid-1980s who are all coping
with sexual identity, disease and a strong sense of disillusionment
about the world in which they live.
Among them is Louis, a young gay word-processor whose life is quickly
turned upside down when he discovers that his partner has AIDS.
Soon after, Louis decides he cannot handle the strain of his lover's
illness and abandons him as his condition worsens. For the remainder
of the play, Louis struggles with his guilt, undergoing a moral
journey from selfish idealism to genuine repentance.
Of all the characters in Angels in America, Louis seems to
be the most talked about – and with good reason: as a young,
homosexual, politically progressive, Jewish New Yorker, Louis acts
as Kushner's main mouthpiece. Goldwasser admitted that it can be
stressful to play such an important role.
"There is a fair amount of pressure in playing Louis. He is
the clear voice of Tony Kushner throughout the play – not to
mention, the most verbose voice in both parts," explained Goldwasser.
"That said, this character comes out of my pores as an opinionated,
gay, Jewish actor. Much is written about Louis as a difficult role
to make sympathetic, but I fully understand his actions and demeanor.
Louis has been in my circles of friends and family for my whole
life.... Simply speaking about surface qualities, there is body
language, speech cadence and inflections that shouldn't be 'acted'
- otherwise, the risk of stereotyping is too great. Louis isn't
a stereotype – just your Type A, funny, quirky Jew."
Goldwasser said Judaism is part of what makes him who he is.
"I'm very, very proud of my Jewish identity and culture,"
he said. "Judaism to me is centred around family, tradition
and holidays versus a temple or a congregation. Judaism is welcoming
and accessible, traits I very much align with within the religious
construct. I am also intensely proud of how open and affirming my
religion is towards gay Jews."
Although Angels in America tackles many difficult subjects
– love, loss and disease among them – Goldwasser hopes
that audiences will respond positively to the play.
"Our first preview was this weekend and in the fourth row sat
the woman that, seemingly, for whom Tony Kushner wrote this play.
She got every Jewish joke, gesture and nuance and laughed out loud
throughout. It's a very funny play. Jews liberally deal with all
kinds of pain with humor.
"It was such a great first audience and adding that response
– sighs, gasps, laughs – really makes this play breathe."
Despite the fact that Angels in America was published nearly
15 years ago, Goldwasser insisted that its message still resonates.
"This show is as relevant now as it was when it was written.
It will be just as relevant in 20 years," he said.
"I don't go along with the theory that it isn't a show about
AIDS – it is a show about AIDS. Mr. Kushner was speaking from
a very specific point in the history of a very specific epidemic.
But like any timeless piece of art, the heart of the drama is about
love and connection and AIDS is beautifully spun into a metaphor
for any kind of loss.
"Think of your partner with tubes coming out of him/her in
a hospital bed and you're easily in the eye of this storm,"
he continued. "That said, the show stands as a specific history
lesson to those that can't/don't recall the beginning of AIDS. The
face is AIDS is much healthier today, but we cannot forget that
it was not always so and it can turn on a dime. Drug cocktails are
not cures. The cure does not exist."
According to statistics from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control
Society, there were almost 2,900 HIV/AIDS-related deaths in British
Columbia from 1985 to 2005. In 2005, 371 British Columbians tested
positive for HIV; in the world, 40.3 million people are estimated
to live with HIV. Half of all new infections are among young people
aged 15-24.
All of this supports the contention that Kushner's Tony Award-winning
masterpiece remains meaningful.
"I hope people will come with an open mind and let it wash
over them," said Goldwasser of Hoarse Raven's production. "Don't
read up on it first, don't read the script to brush up, don't rent
the DVD [HBO's 2003 two-part mini-series]. Just go to Granville
Island and meet some interesting characters. Tony Kushner will do
the rest."
Goldwasser called Angels in America "a call to arms
to keep moving forward - to listen to your gut and listen just as
closely to those around you. Bring someone who doesn't know the
show at all. You'll be glad you did."
Angels in America "Part I, Millennium Approaches"
is at the Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island, through Aug. 19.
"Part II, Perestroika," opens on Aug. 2 and plays through
Aug. 19. Tickets are $42.80 and can be purchased from Ticketmaster
at www.ticketmaster.ca
or 604-280-4444. Every Tuesday is two-for-one night and Wednesdays
are pay-what-you-can nights (this offer is on door sales only and
excludes the Aug. 2 opening).
Families should note that Angels in America includes nudity
and much profanity.
Stephanie Ramsay is a summer intern at the Independent.
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