Review: THE NORMAL HEART Opens at the Off Center Theatre in Kansas City

The heart gripping, emotional roller coaster, The Normal Heart opened at the Off Center Theatre in Crown Center on October 3. Larry Kramer wrote the largely autobiographical play that opened in 1985 Off-Broadway and on Broadway in April of 2011. The Normal Heart considered one of the best plays to deal with the epidemic was also one of the first productions to bring it to the stage.

Presented by Relevance Productions, Trevor Belt directs the play that focuses on the beginning of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City. The story is brought to the surface by Ned Weeks a writer/activist and the gay founder of a prominent HIV advocacy organization.

Weeks is loud and argumentative with nearly everyone he meets. Whether it is his friends, his heterosexual brother, or the assistant to the mayor he lashes out at them all, while feeling the pain of losing so many friends to the disease. On a first date with his soon-to-be lover, he turns it into a rant about the HIV issue and the ignorance of the government and public to recognize it.

TJ Lancaster is magnificent in the role of Ned Weeks. It is not only his tears that fall near the end of the production; it is also the tears of audience members. Vanessa Davis plays Dr. Emma Brookner and is marvelous as one of the first medical practitioners to treat the rising number of victims. Devin Burns plays Felix Turner, and turns out a heart wrenching performance as the play progresses. Zachary J. Parker plays Bruce Niles, the former Green Beret afraid to admit publicly that he is gay, and who tries to pull in the reins on Weeks.

The performance of the entire cast is one of the most dynamic presented on a Kansas City stage. It was easy to see how important the subject matter was to each performer. Whether performing in a lead or supporting role each member of the cast was deeply involved in their characters and delivered powerful moving performances. Other members of the enormously talented cast included Bob Wearing, Adam Henry, Trevor Belt, Andy Penn, and Matthew Sweeten.

The Normal Heart continues at the Off Center Theatre through October 18. Purchase tickets at the Off Center Theatre website or call 816-545-6000. Photos courtesy of Relevance Productions and Tom Lancaster.