This site is full of information and LOTS of links to “explore more,” which understandably, can be overwhelming. If you are looking for the best way to get a handle on the world of the play and these characters, I recommend you:
- Browse the top few sections of the following pages to get a brief overview of the main historical parameters of the play’s era: The HIV/AIDS Crisis, Feminism and Gay Liberation Movements, and Chicago in the 1980s.
- Extra time? Dive into the HIV.gov timeline to get snapshots of how the epidemic progressed year by year.
- Read about the Lesbian ‘blood sisters’ who cared for gay men when doctors were too scared to get an idea of how many women and lesbians, in particular, supported the fight against HIV/AIDS early on, despite the hysteria and misinformation that plagued even medical professionals.
- If you watch one thing, watch The World According to Garp, a 1982 film that Evelyn and Grady debate. Based on John Irving’s novel of the same name, the film had a huge impact in the film industry and in U.S. culture, and was one of the earliest Hollywood representations of a “trans woman” (Roberta) and a woman who could be described as queer and perhaps asexual (Jenny). As it focuses on the lives of the main characters, the story investigates sexuality, identity, and the freedoms and consequences of living against mainstream societal expectations. This article focuses on the novel, but is a nice summary of the ideas of the book and film from a contemporary perspective.
- Extra time? Watch Sophie’s Choice, one of Meryl Streep’s career-launching film roles.
- If you have a little extra time, listen to Making Gay History podcast’s most recent season, Season 9: Coming of Age During the AIDS Crisis. This will give you an idea of what it was like to experience the crisis first hand, along with all the fear and discrimination that came with being an openly gay person in the 1980s. Most episodes range from 30-45 minutes, but if you only have a half hour, listen to Chapter 3 where we hear from a few women who volunteered to help in the early days.
Lastly, if you are particularly interested in a character and how they navigate this world, check in with me, or with our best resource yet, Kristen Joy Bjorge (the Playwright!), to get some ideas for how to explore their lives some more.
Happy discoveries!
Mariana Seda, Dramaturg