The Normal Heart

My worries were unwarranted: this revival is a smash. I haven't left the theater wiping the tears from my entire face in a very long time. Oh, I'm a crier. I’m susceptible to heart-rending moments on stage—indeed, I long for them. It tends, though, to take the form of a welling up, an errant tear escaping the eye.

Not this time. When the final curtain fell, it felt like we had been through primal therapy together, and no one wanted to break the sacred silence.

This production bristles with powerful emotion. It is a treat to see Joe Mantello on the other side of the boards again. No need to herald his directorial accomplishments. Now, though, the acting: the antic Jewish urgency, the beating heart within the character--let's hope Mr. Mantello treats us again soon to his inimitable acting.

That said, the power speech of the play, and a soaring performance, belongs to Ellen Barkin as the irate, irascible doctor who was the main early treater of the Aids epidemic. In her wheelchair but without the vaguest hint of self-pity she takes center stage and gives a speech that overwhelms. In lesser hands it could have gone awry. Ms. Barkin is back in her praiseworthy domain. We all know about the recent divorce, about the $30 million she got for her jewelry at the auction. What we did not know was how well she would fare after the crucible of money. Her performance here lays waste to any lingering doubts about her acting chops.

The whole cast is pitch perfect. I don't know how they shared the duties, but the collaborative direction of Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe guides this revival with crisp focus and emotional resonance. We all know what is going to happen. It just scores so beautifully in the deft new hands of this production.

All I can say is wow--go to the Golden Theater before the limited run is gone. You will be glad you did.

Ron Gallen