By Kimberly Rau
There’s a lot of excellent theater happening in Rhode Island right now, but one of the best is absolutely Gamm’s production of Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika.”
The arresting conclusion to Kushner’s “Angels in America” epic about the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, Perestroika starts where the first half, Millennium Approaches, concluded. Prior is still very sick, tortured and confused about what his future holds. Roy Cohn is also very sick and deeply in denial, believing he can find his salvation by shouting down a phone line and intimidating those in his sphere. Louis and Joe are looking for answers wherever they can find them, and Harper, Joe’s wife, is spiraling while mother-in-law Hannah tries to stay out of the fray, only to find herself a pillar at crucial moments.
And, of course, there’s a literal angel hovering about, leading a charge to get God to restore order in Heaven and on earth. All she needs is a prophet, someone who can stand between both worlds and make things right. And being very ill can make you prone to visions…
Part 1 ends with an angel proclaiming, “The great work begins!” and Part 2 shows the start of that work, asking whether it’s possible for people to change. The answer is: Perhaps, but change is never easy.
If you saw “Millennium Approaches” and were impressed, buckle up, because Part 2 finds our cast even more locked-in to this spectacular story that is simultaneously heartfelt and heart-rending, and always full of passion. Anyone who has dealt with death knows, sometimes, all you can do is laugh, and “Perestroika” turns from sorrow to the surreal on a dime, hitting every possible emotion along the way. Under Brian McEleney’s masterful direction, not a moment is missed in this incredibly important work.
Almost the entire cast has returned for “Perestroika,” with the exception of Phyllis Kay, who played Hannah in Part 1. Jeanine Kane takes over as Joe’s stoic mother, a woman who has seen enough of life to know a happy ending isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Kane is a beautiful addition to an already very strong cast.
Rachael Warren returns as Kushner’s literal angel, this time embracing a much more volatile visage as Heaven’s dutiful reach a point of desperation. Warren, an accomplished and highly versatile actor, manages these wild character swings with aplomb, never hesitating to go to the extremes the role commands. Tony Estrella is Roy Cohn, a conservative lawyer dying of “liver cancer” who is desperate to harness the universe to his will, though he prefers force and threats over nighttime visions. Like Warren in her role, Estrella knows just how far to take Roy’s histrionics for maximum effect. You almost feel sorry for the guy (almost).
Rodney Witherspoon II plays Belize, a queer nurse who is friends with Prior. Belize finds himself scraping the reserves of his compassion as first Roy, then Louis, end up leaning on him for reassurance. Witherspoon, as in Part 1, is a master class in acting and reactions, changing the tone of the conversation with as little as a subtle posture shift or raised eyebrow.
Harper, played by Gabrielle McCauley, is a woman on the verge of…something. Nervous breakdown? Perhaps. Collapse? Definitely. Breaking free? We can pray. McCauley does wonderful justice to this nervous, but no less determined, character. Harper’s husband Joe is the opposite of conviction, running from his home only to return as soon as things are confusing again. You want to hate him, but Jeff Church makes sure to offer a character so unmoored that it’s impossible. In the same vein, Louis, interpreted excellently by Ben Steinfeld, is wishy-washy and maddening at times, but so clearly frightened by his life you can understand, if not excuse, his stumbles.
For better or worse, Kushner’s characters are all tragically human, and Prior Walter is no exception. Haas Regen returns to take this complex role seemingly in his stride. His tears are real. His fear is palpable. And yet in the face of her character’s peril, Regen still makes the audience laugh with Prior’s perfectly witty retorts. “F-ck you, I’m a prophet!” he hurls at one point, as if the robes and angelic visions (the ones that parallel his own feelings of loss) aren’t enough.
Literal angel aside, of course, “Angels In America: Perestroika” is about those who answered the call in the face of unthinkable tragedy, providing comfort and care to those they might have turned away from in another situation. Characters are called upon to examine themselves in uncomfortable ways and face their demons. They are forced to see the fragility and humanity in others, and, perhaps most realistically, at the end of all that work, not always get their own way. But that’s life. “We live past hope,” Prior announces toward the end of the play, but, he is quick to add, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth living.
Point blank, you must see this show. Not only is it a magnificent piece of theater, it also examines an American tragedy in a wonderfully nuanced light. If you didn’t see Part 1, it’s not a deal-breaker. Read a synopsis online if you must, but please, don’t let that keep you from this incredible work of art.
“Angels In America: Part 2, Perestroika” runs through Oct. 12, 2025, at The Gamm Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at gammtheatre.org or by calling 401.723.4266.
