Tisch T.
Yelp
Thank You Golden Theatre for showing The Normal Heart; Larry Kramer's landmark play about love, AIDS & NYC in the 1980's. It chronicles the rise of the AIDS crisis in NYC as seen through the fighting eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group.
The first time I went to see this, I... It was to raw, too close to my heart and I had to leave the theatre, you see my brother and his friends were all dying! This was my life for many years as I volunteered with GMHC & Act Up promoting and recruiting for the First several Walk & Dance a-thons..raising money and awareness! I was very angry at the World then for it's fear & ignorance. I once had a Woman (who resembled my grandmother) on Central Park West throw a handful of rocks at me, Yelling ..."It's God's way of getting rid of Homo's" ..Seriously!
We...I, have come a long way since then, not only did I manage to make it through this performance (not without tears), but with an open "normal heart"... with much Love & Acceptance... the key to solving any World crisis!
It was Synchronicity at it's best when my friend asked me to join her on my brother's birthday (22 yrs after his passing)... It was heart wrenching... the performances, the diverse crowd. Ellen Barkin, as (Dr. Emma Brookner) was outstanding, I just love her spirit, she so reminds me of the pioneer Angie Dickinson, never missed an episode... back in the day! Joe Mantello's (Ned Weeks) spectacular drive and Intensity brought me right back to the 80's front-line defense against the enemies. While Jim Parsons as the witty volunteer (Tommy Boatwright) who made us laugh with his dry cutting humor & his own big bang theory's!
I'm glad I went to see this... It opened the door again, a door I shut a long time ago after being burnt out from the fighting and the disappointment! In the Words of Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Kramer, we can not give up! We still have a long way to go to end this Plague! We all need to do more... After all... "Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys! it." So... Let's do more...Be the General in this War without a leader and Fight until.... we start "Winning"!