First performed in 1991 and 1992, Tony  Kushner’s Angels in America is the most important play to deal with the AIDs epidemic in the USA and the homophobia it provoked. Written and performed in two parts, Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, it was also turned into an award-winning HBO TV series in six parts in 2003. It is regarded by some as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century. The International Theatre Amsterdam’s production is Kushner’s favourite interpretation of his play.

While blending fantasy with reality, it follows the tragic experiences of gay American men in the eighties, and is highly critical of the right-wing Christian and Reaganite politics of the era.

In a period when bigotry, selfishness and power were being idolised, it responds by praising acts of love, community, and service.

The story revolves around five main characters. Louis (Minne Koole) and Prior (Eelco Smits) are a gay couple. Prior has AIDS, but Louis is unable to cope with the reality of his illness. Louis, a Jewish  Democrat, is working at a menial job in the offices of Roy Cohn, (Hans Kesting), a vicious old closeted Republican, when he meets a young Mormon lawyer called Joe (Krisjan Schellingerhout). Roy is dying of AIDS but refuses to accept that he is homosexual or admit that he has the disease. Joe is Roy’s crush, and he wants Joe to leave his wife and go to Washington DC with him. Joe’s wife Harper (Eefje Paddenburg), who has mental health problems, discovers that Joe is gay and her world falls apart. When Louis and Joe hook up, their respective partners, who have never met, find themselves together in an alternate reality where they are attended by angels. Meanwhile, as his health deteriorates, Roy is haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, a communist, whose execution he had helped arrange in 1953.

The ensemble cast is flawless, but kudos must be given to :-

Marieke Heebink, who in playing numerous parts – in a variety of Diane von Furstenberg-style dresses – teases and twinkles as she supports and challenges the main characters. Jesse Mensah plays Prior’s best friend, an ex-drag queen called Belize, and Felix Schellekens is the Angel.

In Millennium Approaches, the dominant emotion is fear. There is a new deadly plague, with no cure; God has deserted his people, and there are no angels left in America. In Perestroika, an angel descends, and there is hope at last – but an angel must be wrestled and defeated before they give their blessing.

What is most thought-provoking in Kushner’s epic literary work are the long passages of fine prose, covering politics, religion, ethics, philosophy and the human condition. This is balanced by a wry sense of humour.

Ivo van Hove’s bold direction incorporates elements of European physical theatre and feels more radical than other interpretations I have seen. It does not shock, but it can be disturbing at times.

The staging of this production is enhanced by a fitting soundtrack by David Bowie, both from the eighties and from his final album Dark Star, written and recorded while he was dying.

Less successful, however, is the bleak minimal set whose backdrop projections are very faint when light levels on stage are high. This may be a technical problem which hopefully can be resolved.

If you are daunted by the length of the show and the fact that it is in Dutch, don’t be. The seating in the Kings Theatre is comfortable, there is a 45-minute interval and the English surtitles are visible on three screens. You will be rewarded with a masterpiece and an astounding theatrical experience which will stay with you for years to come.

The UK premiere on August 15th was at the Edinburgh International Festival. The five-hour performance, in Dutch with surtitles, continues at the Kings Theatre 18th -20th August.