7.6 /10 1 Votes
Written by William M. Hoffman Original language English First performance 10 March 1985 Setting New York City | 3.8/5 Goodreads Date premiered 10 March 1985 Genre Drama Playwright William M. Hoffman Adaptations As Is (1986) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Characters Saul
Rich
Nurse
Chet
Barney
Brother
Lily
Pat Place premiered Circle Repertory Theatre
New York City Places premiered Circle Repertory Company, New York City Similar Streamers, Marvin's Room, Children of a Lesser God, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Torch Song Trilogy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As is by william m hoffman at the finborough theatre
As Is is a play by William M. Hoffman.The Circle Repertory Company and The Glines co-production, directed by Marshall W. Mason, opened on March 10, 1985 at the Circle Theatre, where it ran for 49 performances. The Broadway production, produced by John Glines, Lawrence Lane, Lucille Lortel, and the Shubert Organization, opened on May 1 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.
Contents
Plot synopsis
As Is focuses on the effect AIDS, then a fairly new pandemic, 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 pandemic was affecting LGBT Americans, being produced shortly before Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart was first performed on April 21, 1985.
This play revolves around a gay couple, Saul and Rich, who are in charge of opening up the play with their break-up. But Rich’s firm resolution is not that decisive, for he returns to Saul’s arms once he contracts AIDS from his new lover. Seeking emotional support, Rich stages how the diseased are treated by the American family, doctors, and friends. The impersonality of these people’s behavior leads Rich to notice the importance of the partner for the gay individual.
Adaptation
In 1986, Hoffman adapted the play for a television production directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg starring Hadary, Robert Carradine, and Colleen Dewhurst. Both Hadary and Carradine were nominated for CableACE Awards.
Awards and 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. The production was named as the critics' choice by the London edition of Time Out magazine and transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in 2015.