L'Avant-Scène théâtre N° 987/988, 1er-15 avril 1996 : Angels in America. 2e partie, Perestroïka

Réflexions sur les éternels problèmes posés par la vertu et le bonheur. 6 femmes, 5 hommes / 2 h

K Up-A picture book based on a 1938 Czech opera, originally performed by the children of Terezin. A brother and sister try to get milk for their sick mother. They sing for coins in the town square, but Brundibar the organ grinder drowns out their words with his "teeth-chattery bone-rattley horrible song." Pepicek and Aninku then join voices with 300 other children and earn enough coins to fill their "soon-to-be-milkbucket." The playful language, with occasional rhyme and alliteration, is a perfect match for Sendak's spirited young heroes. The illustrations reflect varied undertones of a powerful story that works on different levels, including many references to the Holocaust. Scenes in the town show rich adults ignoring the desperate siblings, while other children also suffer from hunger. A banner matches a sign that covered the gates of Auschwitz, and several townsfolk wear yellow Stars of David. Brundibar vaguely resembles Hitler, particularly in one scene where he appears, huge and purple faced, with a clenched fist. A wordless spread showing grieving parents is poignant in itself, but tragic within the Holocaust context. Most kids won't get the literal references, but will respond directly to the images of the ominous, yet hopeful world depicted. In the end everyone sings triumphantly that "the wicked never win" and "our friends make us strong," but a final scribbled message from Brundibar promises that he'll be back. This is an ambitious picture book that succeeds both as a simple children's story and as a compelling statement against tyranny.Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, ORCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A New-York, à l'automne 1985, plusieurs histoires personnelles et plusieurs aventures collectives se conjuguent. Il y a Prior et Louis, qui s'aiment, mais la maladie (le SIDA) les sépare; un couple mal accordé, Harper et Joe, troublé par une sexualité incertaine et des croyances religieuses pesantes; un grand avocat d'affaires, Roy M. Cohn, impliqué dans les scandales financiers et politiques du parti de Reagan ou du maccarthysme antérieur, et dont la vie est aussi en danger; il y a Belize, infirmier miséricordieux, lourd du double handicap d'être Noir et drag queen... Il y a aussi le fantôme d'Ethel Rosenberg et un Ange qui élit Prior comme prophète d'un Occident mal portant, avant de rejoindre ses congénères dans un paradis aride et déserté par Dieu... Tous aiment, souffrent, luttent, se mesurent à de grands enjeux, désemparés face au grand rêve perdu de l'Amérique.