The Inheritance - YV

Saw this on Monday and Tuesday and totally loved it - the text was definitely flawed in some respects but I was so absorbed that I didn't really care. I think the acting, writing and direction were all incredible, and I don't think I've ever been more moved in the theatre than I was at the end of part 1! I was so impressed by how much of a world and sense of setting they were able to convey through an empty stage, but that's a testament to how well done it was in every respect. Think I preferred it to Angels in America, although both suffered a little from having such a strong ending to part 1 that the second part couldn't possibly live up to.

Was in the back during both parts and Stephen Daldry kept coming in and out to make notes! Was empty seats next to me in the second part so he was pretty much sitting next to me. Think it's quite admirable that he's still so dedicated to the production this late in the run!

Long play. Two parts. AIDS and the gays.

'nuff said.

That makes it all still rather fruity though, don't you think?

Did you think my Spidey-Senses wouldn't come running on this one?

It's being compared because what Lopez has done, is not only write a play ABOUT the 'Inheritance' of AIDS to the gay community, but he's also as a playwright, writing with his own 'Inheritance' of the plays of the crisis, and of the gay 'canon' (if you will) so the 'gay canon'- the literature about gay life, both closeted and otherwise is served largely by the EM Forster element, but subtly in other ways woven in etc. That in his framing of the writing class these 'kids' are only writing today, because they are in a legacy (Inheritance) from the gay writers before them etc etc

What Lopez also does, is weave in elements of that 'canon' of AIDS theatre - because in order to write a contemporary play that touches on it he can't help but do it, but also I think consciously, he does it. So there's elements of Kushner- moments defiantly nod to Belize, and Prior's 'Bless me anyway' speech. But also the wider literature on AIDS- particularly plays. There's elements of 'As Is' in there, and certainly elements of 'The Normal Heart'

In fact this whole discussion puts me in mind of Lopez subtly, with the whole play giving a version of the 'I come from a culture' speech in The Normal Heart. 

But overall it's a nod to both the actual 'Inheritance' in society of gay men today, and culturally, what gay writers like Lopez inherit too. And his nods to all that are fascinating. Well to me anyway....

But all that by the by, it's a long ass play about the AIDS epidemic. I can give you a whole host of reasons why they're very different (none of which are an insult to Lopez) but they're compared because quite deliberately Lopez situates himself in that canon.


*Drops PhD* *scurries out with Spidey senses*  

Preferably read it - or see a production if you can find it. The film isn't bad exactly, but it's very significantly cut down, and the stage play is a much richer piece of writing.

I've pretty much decided my sexuality can be defined as 'John Benjamin Hickey in knitwear' thanks to this play. And I'm ok with that. 

Happy Birthday!

Haha fair. Though with a certain Scottish actor all I hear is “I look like me grandad in this” when he wears it 😂😂

Also @ryan whew it’s too early for that (almost)

Managed to do the double show day today. What can I say? What a fantastic piece of drama that was. Both absolutely heartbreaking and fantastic comedy in equal measure. The really simple staging really allowed the text to shine. How the cast manage to do what they did today is unbelievable. They really put the audience through an emotional rollercoaster, and by the end I was an emotional wreck along with most of the audience I imagine. This is definitely a show that will stay with me for a long time after today. It’s going to take something special to top what I experienced today.

For me Part 1 really had two standout moments. Walter’s monologue half way through and then that heart
breaking end to the Act. During those two moments you could hear a pin drop in the audience.

In respect to Part 2 I thought at times it lost it way slightly but by the end I was a sobbing my eyes out. It would be unfair to single out one particular cast member, for this truly was an ensemble piece and each contributing to a fantastic day.

All the cast really gave it their all, and you could see at the end what the well deserved standing ovation meant to them.

Thanks for this. I'm doing the double header next Saturday, looking forward to it.

I'm really surprised to learn from this thread how the Lucky Dip system works - I'd assumed there was a random allocation of seats (as with the ENO Secret Seats scheme), but the fact you are actually getting the seat of someone who hasn't turned up and might get turfed out of it is not made clear, I think?

Same and to be honest it's why I cancelled my return trip- I couldn't face after 4 hours on a coach to get there, and sleeping on a sofa in the evening, the risk of then standing for almost 8 hours in the middle. Especially as transport wise there was no way I'd get there early enough to be the front of the queue. 

Forgive my lazy question but we haven't heard anything more about the transfer have we? other than the initial 'it's happening'?