The Normal Heart Beats Strong At The Allways Theatre
Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart is truly New Orleans local theatre at its best. Brought to the stage by Jonathan Mares Productions, The Normal Heart is a searing snapshot of the AIDS crisis in New York between 1981 and 1984 as seen through the eyes of Ned Weeks, a writer and activist, played brilliantly by Nick Shackleford.
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Directed by Kris Shaw, the play kept me mesmerized feeling a mixture of many differing emotions: anger, disbelief, compassion and most of all fear.
I think fear is the biggest driving force of the play. Fear compels every character to wrap their heads around a disease they cannot identify or understand, that kills quickly and without remorse. The horror is blatantly laid bare across the stage and watching the different characters cope with it is emotionally exhausting. Some bury their heads in denial, others fight loudly and then others retreat back into the closet afraid exposure would be a worse fate than death. No one is spared Kramer’s wrath as he holds everyone accountable from the media, the government and even the gay community itself.
Shackleford’s Ned is the center character in this drama that thankfully interjects some comedic moments to break the tension. As his friends start dying he is driven to taking a rather aggressive stance to fight for their lives and protect an entire community. Lisa Picone’s wheelchair bound Dr. Emma Brookner’s sense of urgency and panic spurring Weeks to action is the catalyst of the show. The audience experiences death from the onset and the play does not let up.
Shackleford is simply amazing and has the stamina of an athlete as he takes you through a gamut of reactions whether he is attacking people for their lack of action or bumbling around on a date with his love interest fashion reporter Felix played tenderly by Sam Dudley. The interchange between these two actors is one of the most touching love scenes. And quite a welcome balance to see usually screaming Ned show a more vulnerable side. Also playing a vital role in Weeks’ life is his lawyer brother Ben played by Leon Contavesprie. The scenes between Leon and Nick on stage are so charged with passion, you literally are physically tired when they are finished. Ben’s volley of feelings of love for his brother and fear of his lifestyle and how it will affect him is palpable.
Eliciting many of the laughs is Kyle Daigrepont who shines Mickey as does Jonathan Mares as Bruce the not-so-antagonistic face of Weeks’ new organization. The lighting helps create the stark and clinical atmosphere as the action shifts between apartments, doctors’ offices and law firms. But it is the way each of the characters reacts to the horror of AIDS and their own mortality that I find the most interesting aspect of the play. The entire cast of The Normal Heart works like a well-oiled machine to create an unforgettable night of theatre.
The Normal Heart is playing at The Allways Theatre located at 2240 St. Claude Avenue. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. through April 19, 2014. For more information or tickets, call 504-758-9950 or got to www.brownpapertickets.com.
Tony Leggio
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