KRAMER/FAUCI

NYU Skirball premiered Daniel Fish’s Kramer/Fauci, a verbatim retelling of the 1993 televised clash between Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading AIDS researcher, and playwright-activist Larry Kramer.

Fish and assistant director Michael Rogerson’s fantastical direction, paired with the original words, beautifully highlights the nuance in Kramer and Fauci’s relationship while simultaneously showcasing the severity of the AIDS crisis and lack of government intervention.

With excellent scenic design by Jim Findlay, Josh Higgason, and Amy Rubin, lighting design by Scott Zielinski with assistant designer Yung-Hung Sung, and costume design by Terese Wadden, the team fully realizes this heightened, almost surreal world.

Bright lights shine as the actors, Greig Sargeant (Moderator), Will Brill (Dr. Anthony Fauci), Thomas Jay Ryan (Larry Kramer), and Jennifer Seastone (Callers) enter the stage staring directly at the audience. The set is grey and minimal, with just one black rolling chair for Sargeant. The scenic design is perfectly simple, providing a groundedness that supports the wide range of dramatic events, from Seastone slipping into a chicken costume to Ryan slowly being devoured by soapy bubbles. The restraint of the space allows the performance to expand beyond it.

In the original program, Kramer was in New York calling in, unable to see Fauci or the moderator. Fish tells the story from Kramer’s perspective but creates an absurdist, dream-like world where they can all interact. Stepping away from a literal recreation of the broadcast proves to be a smart tactic; being able to witness Ryan’s physical storytelling and facial expressions is integral to understanding the complexities of both Kramer and Fauci, placing them on an equal playing field for audience interpretation.

As a young gay artist, Kramer/Fauci feels moving, intimate, and personal. LGBTQIA+ history is rarely taught in schools, so much of what we learn about our community is discovered on our own. This play educates audiences collectively while remaining a compelling and entertaining dramatic work. The world needs more plays like Kramer/Fauci.

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Frankie Lehr