by Tony Annicone

Trinity Repertory Company’s opening show of their season is the 2020 Tony Award and 2019 Olivier Award winning play “The Inheritance” by Matthew Lopez. This two part play is about the aftermath of the AIDS crises, and takes place from the summer of 2015 to spring of 2018 and encompasses the gay identity of the 21st Century. Lopez uses EM Forster’s 1910 novel as the framework for his new tale and sets it in current day New York. The two Schlegel sisters from the original novel are transformed into two gay men in this new show. The 30 year old couple are Eric Glass, a political activist and Toby Darling, a writer, who have been partners for seven years. Shortly before they become engaged, they meet two strangers, an older man who lived through the AIDS crisis and a younger man yearning for a brighter future. These three generations deal with many situations and meetings that occur in the course of this three hour show. Toby must deal with success of a play he’s written as well as some self-doubt. This leads him into precarious situations, including a drug induced party and an unfortunate encounter with an escort. On the other hand, Eric seems to be on the right track. This upsets their planned future leaving it in disarray. Joe Wilson Jr. brings out the pathos and the comic moments excellently in this superbly written show. He elicits marvelous performances from his talented cast as they run the gamut of emotions. This splendid masterpiece is given a resounding and very well-deserved standing ovation at the close of the show.

Read more “‘The Inheritance Part 1’ Shines at Trinity”