Union Theatre – until 8th June 2019
Reviewed by Catherine Françoise
4****
Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is not often done so here’s a wonderful opportunity to grab yourself a ticket or two at the Union Theatre for an engaging, thoughtful, stylish production directed by Brian Hodgson.
A collection of personal stories of unconnected people told in poems and songs ~ stories sympathetic, selfless, selfish, baffled, quiet, angry, funny, resigned, loud, proud and more besides. Described as a song cycle this moving piece was inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in San Francisco and Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology. Each of the monologues is written from the perspective of people who have died as a result of AIDS with the songs representing the feelings of friends and family members dealing with the loss.
Strong and moving performances from a committed cast portray so many different types of people AIDS affected. Powerfully for something first written in the early 1980s the characters affected are not just gay men as most people certainly would have assumed 3 decades ago, but also straight men, women and haemophiliacs. And of course 3 decades ago there was no medication that could much alleviate the distressing and devastating effects of AIDS, let alone alleviate or even banish the virus. Tens of thousands of mainly young people died during the 80s and Elegies was originally titled ‘The Quilt’ as an homage to all the quilts made and joined together in San Francisco.
Each character in the show has their own small quilt which they present as they tell their own individual story, though as this is also an ensemble piece, everyone stays on stage for the entire performance supporting each other as ensemble.
Bryan Hodgson directs Aidan Harkins, Ailsa Davidson, Althea Burey, Calum Gulvin, Charlie McCullagh, Chris Cahill, Fraser Leigh Green, Jackie Pulford, Jade Chaston, Jade Marvin, Kristine Kruse, Marcus Ayton, Matthew Grove, Michiel Janssens, Paige Fenlon and Rhys Taylor in an almost choreographed style (Adam Haigh choreography credit). Beautiful, impactful lighting from Alex Musgrave and precise, clever sound effects by Henry Brennan supported changes of mood, place, character and flashbacks in time.
The evocative score includes some of my personal favourite songs and was accompanied most wonderfully by Musical Director Henry Brennan on piano and Pippa Mason on cello. The rich melancholic cello sound really adds something special to these emotional and quite profound songs composed by Bill Russell (Book & Lyrics) and Janet Hood (Music).
Many of these beautiful songs have been heard in cabaret and concert over the past 30 years but here is a wonderful chance to hear them in situ as originally created:
· Angels, Punks And Raging Queens
· Holding On To You
· I Don’t Do That Anymore
· And The Rain Keeps Falling Down
· Celebrate
· I Don’t Know How To Help You
· Heroes All Around
· Spend It While You Can
· My Brother Lived In San Francisco
· Learning To Let Go
Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens are spoken authentic stories of those lost too soon, told with love, honesty and humour, with those left behind remembering and expressing their best memories and profound loss in beautiful songs ~ A compelling tribute to all millions now lost to AIDS and to those left behind mourning those gone but not forgotten.
Get Tickets here: http://www.uniontheatre.biz/elegies.html