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.
Joe works his magic in this show as he creates these characters that the audience comes to identify with and really grow to care about as the show progresses. He gives each performer their moment to shine in their roles while obtaining stunning and gut-wrenching performances from one and all. His cast members play multiple roles and have learned enormous amounts of dialogue in the award winning show.
Leading this cast is Stephen Thorne, playing two different characters, E.M Forster, the British author and Walter Poole, wealthy gay man who owns a gorgeous estate in Westchester, NY. He does a magnificent job changing from one character to another in a split second. Forster narrates the show and appears in many scenes conversing with the other characters, asking them questions and telling the audience the true meaning of their statements. Stephen delivers the longest monologue in the history of theatre as Walter when he describes how he grew up gay in Ohio when it wasn’t acceptable, and decided to come to New York when he was 19 years old in 1981. Walter met the man of his dreams, Henry Wilcox, an athlete who was married with two young sons, and Walter was together with him for 36 years. Stephen runs the gamut of emotions and gives a tour de force performance in both roles, bringing tears to your eyes while he mesmerizes you completely from start to finish. Walter has taken care of many friends that passed away from AIDS in his home and wants Eric to understand why he did it. He is the heart and soul of this show. I first reviewed Stephen as Tom Joad in “Grapes of Wrath” nine years ago at Trinity Rep and this is one more feather in his cap. Bravo.
Playing Toby Darling, the tortured author who can’t make up his mind about who he wants to be with after writing his play (and having a meltdown) is Taavon Gamble. He does a terrific job in this role. Toby starts off calling from a party at Walter’s house and getting so drunk that he throws up on Meryl Streep and a dog which won many laughs. Toby has been with Eric for seven years and their fornication scene is hilarious with the clever use of a sheet that has to be seen to be believed. However, Eric asks for his hand in marriage and the bubble bursts. A 21 year old man shows up at Eric’s party to return Toby’s shopping bag and the seemingly wealthy Adam enters their lives. Taavon delivers the goods with the angst and internal struggle of emotions that Toby is feeling and the confrontation scene between Toby and Eric is fabulous to behold.
Jack Dwyer does a dynamic job as Eric Glass who is living in a rent controlled apartment left to him by his grandmother who escaped the Nazis and came to America. His interactions with the other characters are splendid to behold. His argument scenes with Toby and his compassionate scenes with Walter and Henry are breathtaking. Jack wins many laughs when he says he’s renting his apartment for $575 a month. One of the most terrifying moments is living through the results of the 2016 election again and watching the chaos it brought to the country and especially to the gay community.
Chingwe Padraig Sullivan does a marvelous job as Adam, an inexperienced actor who wants to audition for Toby’s play. Toby looks upon Adam as a spoiled rich kid, but Adam finally tells Toby about a bath house travesty that happened in Prague when Adam tested HIV positive. Things worked out but Adam’s tired of being told he never suffered and also admits being adopted at two months old. Chingwe also does a great job as Liam, an escort that Toby hires on Christmas Eve in 2016, making the characters different from each other.
Mauro Hantman plays the stoic character of the millionaire, Henry Wilcox who delivers bad news to Eric and later on befriends him after getting to know him. Mauro captures the essence of this character and his two spoiled sons are well played by Ross Barron and David Mattar Merten. Kudos to the whole cast and crew on a job tremendously well done. Be sure to catch fantastic acting and direction in this must see drama at Trinity Repertory Company. Looking forward to seeing “The Inheritance” Part 2 later this month. Run do not walk to the box office before the show is completely sold out. Their website is www.trinityrep.com Tell them Tony sent you.
THE INHERITANCE Part 1 (1 September to 5 November)
Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington Street, Providence, RI
1(401)351-4242
