"Who cares if a bunch of faggots die?"
Larry Kramer did. And, more than 40 years ago, that's what caused him to write that caustic question in his remarkable play The Normal Heart. THE signature work of activist / writer Kramer, when it premiered off-Broadway in 1985, the largely autobiographical play gave voice to what many—from the conservative Reagan administration to the ostensibly liberal New York Times—would have preferred to ignore: that gay men were dying in droves from a new, barely understood disease, one we now know as AIDS.
Some four decades—and one additional pandemic later—Redtwist Theatre is debuting its newly renovated performance space (still a small "black box" theater, but now with nicer amenities and a "new construction smell") by revisiting Kramer's angry opus.
And, angry it is.
This play, seething with the raw emotion of its creator, serves as a vessel for Kramer's legendary fury. His anger, far more than a simple outburst, is a complex message about the importance of advocacy, love, loss, and an unyielding demand for justice.
Already known for challenging audiences, this production of The Normal Heart is perhaps even more confrontational due to its intimate—sometimes claustrophobic—staging ... only inches from the audience. This gutsy directorial decision (kudos to director Ted Hoerl) challenges audiences to confront some enduring uncomfortable truths by eliminating any feeling of safe distance that the decades—or a proscenium stage—can provide.
In this charged atmosphere, the actors bring to life the desperation and urgency that defined the early years of the AIDS crisis. Each performance is a visceral reminder of the human cost of indifference and the power of collective action. The characters, drawn from Kramer's own circle of friends and family, are portrayed with a raw honesty that honors their real-life counterparts. The dialogue crackles with intensity, capturing the zeitgeist of a community fighting for its very survival.
Two performances in particular stand out. Zachary Linnert as Felix—an at-first-private man with a very public illness, brings a deep sensitivity and well of raw emotion to a role than can sometimes merely be an excuse for the audience to reach for a tissue. And Christopher Meister, as the protagonist's older (straight) brother, shows equal nuance handling his role of a man slowly and fully accepting his brother.
In a world still grappling with pandemics and prejudice, The Normal Heart resonates with a startling clarity. It reminds us that while the diseases may change, the need for compassion, understanding, and activism remains constant. The play's lasting power lies in its ability to stir the conscience and inspire action, a testament to Kramer's vision and the enduring relevance of his work.
The Normal Heart runs through September 29 at the newly renovated Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. The show's run time is three hours, with one intermission. Tickets are available at RedtwistTheatre.org.
For more information on this and other plays, see theatreinchicago.com.
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