As Is (play)
As Is is a play written by William M. Hoffman. The play was first produced by Circle Repertory Company and The Glines and directed by Marshall W. Mason. It opened on March 10, 1985, at the Circle Rep in New York City, where it ran for 49 performances.
| As Is | |
|---|---|
 Cover from TV video production | |
| Written by | William M. Hoffman |
| Characters | Saul Rich Nurse Chet Barney Brother Lily Pat |
| Date premiered | 10 March 1985 |
| Place premiered | Circle Repertory Theatre New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | New York City |
The subsequent Broadway production, produced by John Glines, Lawrence Lane, Lucille Lortel, and the Shubert Organization, opened on May 1, 1985, at the Lyceum Theatre, where it ran for 285 performances following six previews. The cast included Robert Carradine, Jonathan Hadary, Jonathan Hogan, Lou Liberatore, Ken Kliban, and Claris Erickson.
Plot summary
As Is portrays the effect that AIDS, a relatively new epidemic in the 1980s, has on a group of friends living in New York City. It was one of the first plays, and subsequent television films, depicting how the epidemic was affecting gay Americans. As Is opened shortly before Larry Kramer's play about AIDS, The Normal Heart, was first performed on April 21, 1985.
This play depicts a gay couple, Saul and Rich, who open the play, and their separation. Rich's firm decision to separate is reversed when he returns to Saul after contracting AIDS from his new lover. Seeking emotional support, Rich shows how people with AIDS were treated by the American family, doctors, and friends. Their impersonal and detached attitudes lead Rich to recognize the importance of the partner for the gay individual.
Film adaptation
In 1986, Hoffman adapted the play for a television production directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg starring Hadary, Carradine, and Colleen Dewhurst. Both Hadary and Carradine were nominated for CableACE Awards.
Awards and nominations
- Awards
- Nominations
Revivals
In 2010, New York's Apple Core Theater Company produced a revival. The play was also produced at London's Finborough Theatre, directed by Andrew Keates.[1] The London production was named critics' choice by the London edition of Time Out magazine, and transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in 2015.[2]
References
- "As Is - 2013 Productions - Finborough Theatre". www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
- "William M Hoffman's As Is to run at Trafalgar Studios | News | The Stage". The Stage. 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
External links
- As Is at the Internet Broadway Database
- As Is at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- As Is at IMDb
- Frank Rich (11 March 1985). "Stage: 'As Is,' About AIDS, Opens". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 August 2014.