I have AIDS: a still present challenge
In a world preoccupied with flu pandemics, economic crises and a brand spanking new era of American politics, it’s no surprise that some of the slower burning challenges facing society have been pushed to back of our consciences. AIDS in the western world is one such challenge.
While champions like Stephen Lewis and former US president Bill Clinton work tirelessly to bring equality to Africa in terms of availability of treatment and information about AIDS, it does not change the fact that there is still no cure for the disease. Those infected in the western world may endure a more comfortable and lengthy life span than those in the second and third worlds but they still face a life of drug dependency, social stigma and an uncertain medical future.
It is that forgotten plight that writer/director Sky Gilbert attempts to remind us of in his new play *I have AIDS* which just finished its run at Toronto’s "Buddies In Bad Times Theatre":http://www.artsexy.ca/index.cfm. Featuring "This Hour Has 22 Minutes":http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/ star Gavin Crawford, I Have AIDS recounts the story of Prodon, a middling stand up comedian who has just been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease. Demonstrating how he and those around him deal with the life-altering news in the “enlightened 21st century”, the play is structured on a modified version of the five stages of grief; in this case “Denial”, “Partying”, “Loss of Control”, “Religious Conversion”, and “Acceptance” - of which some are more tongue in cheek than others. Although the artificial structure is only mildly critical to the story itself, it does serve its purpose by motivating a couple of tragic-comedic nuggets.
What does hinder the story significantly is Prodon’s particularly prickly nature. Although there is no rule against a protagonist that is 80% unlikeable, it certainly does nothing to engage the audience in his plight. Prodon’s calmer and and more nuanced lover Vidor (David Yee) would have been an effective counterpoint to the acerbic comedian if he himself were not almost entirely toothless. Allowing Prodon too much dramatic freedom without any effective checks or balances results in an unfortunate air of navel gazing.
Crawford isn’t handed the most layered character ever to grace the Buddies’ stage and he is guilty of coming on a bit too strong in his performance although when given the opportunity to engage in character role-playing and satirical over-dramatics. his talent does shine through. Ryan Kelly rounds out the cast in a trio of secondary roles, and although his “heterosexual health services nurse” is a limp and implausible parody, his eccentric performance as drag queen superstar “Lady Booty” is the high point of the show.
As a director, Gilbert fails to pull his actors back from their own largesses, letting the pace plod at times. Fortunately, he does make up for this with plenty of moments of excess that keep the show lively and fresh. Gilbert tries his hand at tender realism and at mimicking the direct address of stand-up, and although neither mode is convincing, he does manage to blend them with the more successful moments of dramatic extravagance.
*I have AIDS* is by no means a perfect piece of theatre, but it does succeed in one very important way. With a topic such as AIDS, which fell out of the news cycle long ago, and has already been used as the basis for countless theatrical works, it could easily have slipped into a dated been-there-seen-that trap. Fortunately it’s argument feels relevant and the point that we as a society have become complacent when it comes to the problems in our own backyard is not lost in a wash of over-sentimentality.
_I have AIDS written and directed by Sky Gilbert, presented by The Cabaret Company; Featuring Gavin Crawford, Ryan Kelly & David Yee; Set & Lighting design by Steve Lucas; Costumes by Sheree Tams. It was performed at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. You will find more information_ "here":http://www.artsexy.ca/show.cfm?id=237