Critics Praise Zachary Quinto In “Angels in America” + Opening Night Photos & Video

Last night was the official opening of the revival of the play "Angels In America" in New York, with a cast featuring Zachary Quinto. Star Trek’s new Spock is getting high marks for his acting. We have critic excerpts, pictures and video below.

 

Critics praise Quinto in Angels in America

The Signature Theatre Company in New York is producing "Angels in America," a revival production of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which originally opened on Broadway in 1993. The drama runs nearly seven hours over the course of two evenings in two parts (“Millennium Approaches” and “Perestroika”), following the intersecting stories of a number of New Yorkers during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s. Quinto plays Louis Ironson, boyfriend to Prior Walter (Christian Borle) who is suffering from AIDS. Tickets have been selling well and the run has been extended through Feb. 20.


Borle & Quinto in "Angels in America"

The official opening night was last night, and the reviews are now coming in. The play itself is getting mixed, but mostly favorable reviews. But almost all reviewers have praised Quinto’s performance. Here are some quotes:

Fortunately, at the center of the production is a remarkably authentic performance by Zachary Quinto as Louis, the gay, Jewish word-processing court employee whose high-minded ideals are proving difficult to live up to and whose stinging political critiques will eventually be turned on himself. Quinto, best known for his portrayal of Spock in J.J Abrams’ blockbuster film "Star Trek" and the character Sylar in the TV series "Heroes," gets to show his less other-worldly side in "Angels," and his realistic embodiment of a guilt-ridden New York neurotic is one of the production’s chief strengths.
Los Angeles Times

The excellent Mr. Quinto (Mr. Spock in the remake of “Star Trek”), as the selfish but eternally guilty Louis, gives us the flip side of Mr. Heck’s quiet intensity; he is a man who makes a display of his anguish. And the masochistic chemistry between their characters gives a dark, gritty psychological texture to their shared scenes.
New York Times


Quinto in "Angels in America"

The official opening night was last night, and the reviews are now coming in. The play itself is getting mixed, but mostly favorable reviews. But almost all reviewers have praised Quinto’s performance. Here are some quotes:

Quinto and Porter fare best, crafting perceptive portraits of complicated men. The first, fully committed to his part, avoids sweetening his unsympathetic character, while the second beautifully underplays Belize, who can be a finger snap away from mannered.
 – New York Post

Both Quinto and Borle turn in strong performances that get even better in "Perestroika," one tortured by death and the other tortured by himself.
AP

In his stage debut, Zachary Quinto ("Heroes," "Star Trek") impresses as Louis, who abandons his AIDS-stricken lover, Prior (a revelatory Christian Borle), and deals with his guilt and their opinionated friend Belize (Billy Porter).
New York Daily News

As Louis, Quinto comes alive when he has someone to seduce or cajole. His heavy, handsome features suggest appetite, and he’s at his best when there’s a meal in front of him. In the early, expository goings of "Millennium," Kushner’s words seem to defeat him: He retreats into meter, pattern, sound. But once he crosses paths with Heck’s Joe, he starts to pop.
New Yrok Magazine


Heck, Quinto, Kazan, and Borle in "Angels in America"

Video Preview of Angels in America

Opening night photos:


Quinto in at opening night of"Angels in America"


Quinto in at opening night of "Angels in America"

Quinto interview in New York Times

The New York Times also has an interview with Quinto where he talks about the play and his career. The article states "Mr. Quinto is booked to shoot the “Star Trek” sequel next summer. But he intends to establish a second home in New York while pursuing a diversified career in which film, television and theater will all be part of the equation, along with producing." Quinto also talks about dealing with fame, saying “I’m grateful that celebrity or notoriety wasn’t thrust upon me when I was in my 20s, because I think I would have buckled under the weight of it, as so many people do. But I’ve come to realize through experience that ultimately I really do have a lot of power in terms of the way I relate to the public or to people outside of my intimate circle of friends and family. Boundaries are very important to me.”

The article also quotes JJ Abrams, discussing the casting of Quinto as Spock, saying "An enormous amount of discussion went into the emotional life of a character who is so often perceived as unemotional,” Mr. Abrams said in a phone interview. “Zachary was the first person we cast, and he appreciated the opportunity to take something so galvanized in public consciousness and say without fear, ‘Let’s do it again our way.’ ”

 

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The New York Times piece ran last Sunday and is worth reading in its entirety – very nice additional stuff praising Quinto’s work in ST as well as in “Angels.”

What,
No Khan and no Klingons?

WOW!… great reviews….my congratulations to ZQ! ……I already knew that ZQ is AWESOME! …lol…
I’m waiting for him on Star Trek 2012!….Great Young Spock!….at least I hope he feels young in 2012!…LOL…Yeah it taking too long!!!

A very challenging piece of literature. Kudos to Quinto for taking it on. Break a leg, Zack!

It’s always interesting to see the diversity of choices actors make concerning their careers, even if they are castmates from the same movie.

Zoe Saldana made what turned out to be a spectacularly successful choice to appear in virtual form in Avatar; Chris Pine has appeared in an action film; and Zachary Quinto has appeared in a well-regarded and serious play.

Pine also appeared in a play, as I recall, a few months ago.

Unique and very commendable choices in their own way, and quite possibly well-tuned to prevent them from suffering the scourge of stereotyping.

I wish I lived closer to NYC so I could see this. I saw it as a local performance years ago… and of course, the movie. It is an astounding piece of artistic and literary history.

Congrats, Zach!

During the Epidemic of the 80s? Is it over?

7. TMMW:

People were dying of AIDS in droves in the 1980’s. In New York City itself, entire neighborhoods were transformed as their gay populations withered and even disappeared. There was no real treatment, compared to what exists today.

Following up with #8’s point — until AIDS, the worst people thought they could get in the 70s was a fairly treatable (if caught in time) case of syphilis. AIDS caught the whole bathhouse scene by surprise. The casualties were high, and did not stop at the average gay man on the street; consider the deaths of Rock Hudson, Michel Foucault, and others who probably wouldn’t have ever caught it in this day and age….

I’ve been convinced that Quinto is a great actor ever since Sylar. He made that character. Also he was one off the only good things in Star Trek 11.

I wish I could see this play. Its compeling by the way the story is presented. In the 80s not only was no treatment available. Stone-aged attitudes were as infectious as the disease itself. Little or no cooperation in funding or research. Sad times indeed.a great storytelling and acting by quinto from what I’ve heard.

Good to see Z doing diverse roles.

I wonder if it will be available on DVD?

#13: the movie is available on DVD… Broadway performances, as a rule, unfortunately are not.

Interesting how much he looks like Nimoy in the picture where he is wearing glasses.

Due to the low number of comments, I’m going to guess there were many remarks made about Quinto being in a gay production that may have appeared negative. I guess not everyone has a right to their opinions here afterall.

# 16

“If someone does not have anything good and positive to speak better to be silent!” …. if that is the reason it would be great is not it?……or maybe people just respect the choice of the play that ZQ did!

Prejudice is ugly and pointless!

#16
Why on Earth are individuals who support separatist and prejudicial views are fans of Trek is beyond me. Trek is about inclusion and equality. Hurray for Mr. Quinto for making such a bold and brave career choice. LL&P, Zach.

I’m going to”angels” in dec. Quinto is so flippin’ hot -he can play gay, staight, or Vulcan. Oh, and he’s Smart and talented too.

16. What are you suggesting – that some people’s opinions don’t get published on this board? I would think that the only reason they would get an airing here is because they are very rude, insulting, perhaps containing bad/foul language. I don’t know, however I sense that the moderator, Anthony Pascale (are you a sort of moderator?) does not want to post comments that could be considered to be what I said above and/or wants to prevent a flame war ensuing. Makes good sense to me.

Correction: “they would get an airing”. I meant to say – “NOT get an airing…”

@ 16.

I think it might be that people just haven’t posted anything negative on here. I have voiced opinion on such matters, but been deleted. I try to do so in a respective way, but anything negative gets deleted anyway. So maybe others like me just don’t voice our opinions anymore, because they will get deleted anyway.

#16, #22 — Too bad it’s not the good old days when you could gaybash and not be sent to jail for assault and murder, right? Gosh, what’s the First Amendment coming to, when you can’t express your god-given opinions with your fists!

23 –

That’s right – cuz anyone who doesn’t agree with the gay lifestyle choice is automatically a ‘gaybasher’ and violent right?

(name calling is pretty juvenile you know…)

Not speaking to the trolling, but I’ve read good reviews on Quinto’s work in this play. I think it’s awesome that he continues to play such diverse characters.

I saw both plays during the preview performances a couple of weeks ago. I also saw the original Broadway productions and I think the performances in this current production are even better. Quinto is very good. His performance, I think, was better than anything I saw him do as Sylar or Spock. During “Millennium Approaches,” the playwright, Tony Kushner, was sitting across the isle from me, taking notes and running back-stage during the intermissions, probably to give those notes to the actors. I had to wonder if Kushner gave Quito a note during the last intermission that didn’t set well with him, because Zachary didn’t seem happy at all during the curtain call. Perfectionists at work, no doubt.

#26

I know, as an actor in community theatre, I HATE getting notes during the run of a production, especially DURING a show. Really helps destroy the “moment” I’ve striven to get into before the show. Hence, as a director, I never give notes during a show. It’s just a matter of respect.

Speaking to respect, for a moment, in regards to the discord in this subject. I’m glad to see that we fervent Star Trek fans are accepting infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Congrats, Gene – we’ve learned from your lessons.

Looking back over the posts, I still have more to say…

Let’s review what these two despised captains have said:

#16, Captain Conrad, only said that he guessed things got ugly here, since there were so few posts about the story. He then alludes to the fact that unpopular opinions are expunged from the board. That is a fact: inflammatory posts are removed. Personally, I think he was baiting people into the kind of debate that erupted here. Agree with him, no, but he’s no gaybasher.

#22, Captain Roykirk, simply stated his personal experience that unpopular opinion can be deleted. He says nothing about his comments being in regards to sexual orientation. He just as easily could’ve made some remarks about what he’d do to Rick Berman if he was Dexter Morgan and met him in a dark alley. He just said he said something unpopular and it was expunged. Again, nothing untrue or unsavory there.

If anything on there, #23 (The “Lost” Numbers) posted the most inflammatory piece, coming THIS short of calling these two posters homophobes, when nothing in either of their posts gave evidence that they harbored hatred for homosexuals in any way. This was a very hate-filled post that I feel was a little out of line. Is it right to gaybash? No. Is it right to allow it to happen? Hell no. But these two posters have not done that. One assumed the small number of posts here was in correlation to the topic being controversial, while the other said that he has been censored on here before for being unpopular. NEITHER of them said anything disparaging about a person’s age, race, color, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

These posters have been lambasted, even alluded to as “gaybashers”. ” Neither have said anything disparaging about sexual orientation. Yes, they are whining a little about un-PC posts being deleted, but that’s far from them flaming someone for being gay.

Just remember, kids – intolerance is a two-way door.

Actually, I think it’s pretty clear I was using the “allowing X is a gateway for allowing Y” style of argument. My responses to #16 & #23 referred to their accusations that this site censors comments that are contrary to the moderator’s point of view. I am saying (now without sarcasm) that homophobic comments (assuming there were any and were removed) are comparable to physical assault. In other words — words can wound just as well as blows, and therefore stand to be removed.

as far as I can tell, nothing has been removed and this seems pretty pointless and is bordering on trolling. Is it so hard to believe that people have been civil? (or just not interested?) I have often said that if you aren’t interested in something, it seems kind of strange to click on the article and even stranger to comment on it, especially as less that 1% of visitors even make comments on this site to begin with.

I get the sense that some people are trying to provoke the kind of heated ugly fights we have seen in the past.

how about not doing that ok?

#30 Anthony Pascale

Great to know that!!!!