Overview
Synopsis
Perestroika follows on chronologically and plot-wise from Millennium Approaches. It is a complex play that provides a symbolic and fantastical examination of homosexuality, race, and AIDS in 1980s America. The play is made up of eight main characters, all of whom play several other minor characters (of both sexes) throughout. It focuses on the story of Prior Walter, a gay man living with AIDS who has recently been left by his partner, Louis, after he could not cope with the physical and personal impact of the disease. The play opens as Prior is visited by the Angel who has come to make him the prophet for the Great Work designed by the angels above to save the human race. Prior’s rejection of this role underpins the key message of the play: that in the midst of tragedy, mankind keeps moving forward and must keep evolving in order to sort out the destruction it leaves behind. Interlinked with Prior are his ex-partner Louis, who has started a confused relationship with married Mormon lawyer Joe, and Harper, who is married to Joe and possesses the other-worldly vision (or “Threshold of Revelation”) that Prior also has. Prior is unwittingly assisted in his road to revelation by Hannah Pitt (Joe’s mother), who arrives from Salt Lake City to take care of Harper when Joe begins his affair with Louis. Aside from Prior’s journey, the play also contends with the death of Roy Cohn, a real life attorney and key power broker during the McCarthy era. He is dying from AIDS and is visited in his final hours by Ethel Rosenberg, who wants to be the one to tell him of his disbarment and ultimate professional demise. The play ends on a note of optimism as Prior tells the audience that, while AIDS has killed many, there are many more struggling on, living life out of the shadows and keen to be heard.
Show Information
- Book
- Tony Kushner
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1991
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Fantasy/Imaginary, Simple/No Set, Spectacle
- Time & Place
- new york city, elsewhere, 1986-1990
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Perestroika follows on chronologically from Angels in America: Millennium Approaches but is designed to work as a standalone play (although the two parts are often produced in repertory). First performed as a staged reading by the Eureka Theatre Company in San Francisco in May 1991, Perestroika was then workshopped the following May and a staged reading was produced once more, directed by Oscar
to read the context for Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One: Spooj
Scene One
In the darkness a voice is heard announcing the setting of the Kremlin, January 1986. The lights come up on Aleksii Antedilluvianovich Prelapsarianov, the world’s oldest Bolshevik. He muses philosophically on whether the human race is doomed or if it is able to change and reorder the chaos of the world, as he now sees it. At the end of his speech, a crashing sound is heard and the lights come up on Prior cowering in his bedroom, the ceiling broken on the floor,
to read the plot for Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a medical condition caused by the HIV virus that weakens the immune system. It has had a profound impact on the performing arts community, particularly in the late 20th century, as many artists and organizations have addressed its social and personal effects through theatre.
A medication used to treat HIV/AIDS. Frequently referenced in plays addressing the AIDS crisis, such as 'Angels in America.'
A three-dimensional miniature scene used in set design to visualize staging.
A non-literal theatrical scene representing a character's inner thoughts, fears, or desires, often surreal in style.
A dramatic style associated with Bertolt Brecht that encourages critical thinking rather than emotional involvement.
A musical composition with free form and structure, often incorporating multiple themes or variations.
Prejudice or discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, sometimes explored as a theme in dramatic works. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A period in the 1950s marked by anti-communist sentiment in the United States, during which many artists and performers were blacklisted. The McCarthy Era had a profound impact on American theatre and its themes of censorship and political freedom.
A reference to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes featured in theatre as cultural or religious characters. Their representation has appeared in notable works such as satirical musicals and dramas exploring faith and identity.
A character who delivers foresight or divine revelations, often appearing in religious or mythological theatre. Prophets guide plot development and moral themes.
A genre that centers LGBTQ+ characters and themes, challenging heteronormative narratives and celebrating diverse identities in performance.
The moment in a play when a character or audience gains a crucial realization, often a turning point in the narrative.
A High German-derived language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews, used in a unique tradition of Jewish theatre.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher