Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast

The Normal Heart
freeFall Theatre and Al May

Also see Bill's reviews of Two Trains Running and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike


Eric Davis, Dick Baker, Larry Alexander and
Jim Sorensen

Only freeFall Theatre, home to some of the edgiest theater in the Tampa Bay area, would be likely to produce Larry Kramer's 1985 The Normal Heart. The play, somewhat autobiographical, traces the origins of what would become New York's Gay Men's Health Crisis from its beginnings in the author's living room until his unceremonious ouster several years later, and ends with hints of a new organization which became ACT UP. The play packs just as much wallop as it did closer to its historical times as a major Broadway revival in 2011 proved. A movie adaptation for HBO is scheduled to premiere late spring. My companions at the performance had been touched more personally by this modern holocaust and both were very strongly affected.

Central character Ned Weeks is based on author Larry Kramer. Many years ago I traveled to the University of New Hampshire's Durham Campus to hear Mr. Kramer speak. I was completely struck by the intensity of his anger—it was like being hit with the negative energy of a hurricane or tornado. Perhaps he did not see himself quite the way I and my companions on that long ago evening did, because the character in the play, a ferocious fighter, dogged to the point where he turns off many around him, is toned down from the real Larry Kramer.

What freeFall and Al May give us is a very well acted, superbly directed production of The Normal Heart. freeFall's artistic director is cast in the role of Ned Weeks and he gives a very strong performance. So do all of the rest of the cast, including Roxanne Fay as Dr. Emma Brookner, Jim Sorensen as Bruce Niles, Larry Alexander as Mickey Marcus, Dick Baker as Tommy Boatwright, and Justin Gordon as Felix Turner.

Director Larry Silverberg has brought a few individual touches: a candle burns on a table, stage right before the play begins and through the opening scene. I learned from a video available on freeFall's website that this is the yahrzeit candle which burns for 24 hours in memory of a loved one. Here it represents all who have died from HIV/AIDS as well as the Judaism central to Larry Kramer. Silverberg has directed for an intense pace. Scenic design by Jerid Fox, costume design by Scott Daniel and lighting design by Mike Wood all contribute to the overall excellence.

The only other time I have seen this play was in Boston within a few years of its writing but the production was inadequately acted and executed by a tiny gay theater company on a shoestring budget. Bravo to freeFall and Al May for a gripping experience.

freeFall Theatre Company presents The Normal Heartthrough February 16, 2014, at 6099 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. For ticket and performance information, visit www.freefalltheatre.com.

Cast (in alphabetical order):
Larry Alexander * as Mickey Marcus
Dick Baker as Tommy Boatwright
Mark Chandler as Craig Danner/Grady
Eric Brandon Davis* as Ned Weeks
Gavin Esham* as David/Hiram Keebler
Roxanne Fay* as Dr. Emma Brookner
Justin Gordon* as Felix turner
Robb Maus as Ben Weeks
Jim Sorensen* as Bruce Niles
* Member of Actor's Equity Association

Director: Larry Silverberg
Scenic Design: Jerid Fox
Costume Design: Scott Daniel
Lighting Design: Mike Wood
Assistant Lighting Design: Cody Basham
Properties Master: Allison Davis
Production Stage Manager: Daniel LeMien*
Master Carpenter: Matt Davis
Technical Assistant: Trenten Szabo
Backstage Crew: Danielle Calderone, Travis Moore


Photo: Roman Black

--William S. Oser