A place for compassion

Abstract

What is the legacy of the generation of gay men who faced the emergence of AIDS in the 1980s? Can new generations relate and learn from those who went through the trauma of seeing friends and lovers get ill and die, abandoned by society? And how did the experiences and fights of those who lived through the ravages caused by AIDS shape the current social and political identity of gay communities? These difficult questions are raised in The Inheritance, Matthew Lopez's ambitious new play in two parts receiving its world premiere at the Young Vic, under Stephen Daldry's direction. Weaving reflections on the nature of responsibility towards others within a community with elements of Edward Morgan Forster's novel Howard's End, Lopez has created a choral piece about a group of gay men in New York who interrogate themselves and their relationship with past generations to understand who they really are and what their place in the world is. Framed metatheatrically as an attempt to write a story under the guidance of Forster himself (a superb Paul Hilton), The Inheritance focuses on a thirty-something couple—Eric Glass (a tender Kyle Soller), a generous and idealistic lawyer, and Toby Darling (an intense Adam Burnap), an immature writer—who live in a beautiful flat in New York, surrounded by a group of close friends. One day, Eric befriends Walter (again Hilton), an older neighbour who recognises in Eric a kindred spirit and, because of that, would like to take him to visit the beloved house he possesses in Dutchess County. That country house had been bought by Walter's partner Henry (a stern John Benjamin Hickey) as a refuge when in the 1980s the HIV epidemic had started killing many of their friends in New York. Yet in those years, Walter, without Henry's approval, had opened the house to many men who had been ostracised and abandoned by loved ones and society when they developed AIDS, offering them a place to die with dignity. Walter perceives that same sense of responsibility towards those in need of help in Eric but, sadly, he dies of cancer before a visit to the house can actually take place. Unbeknown to Eric, Walter leaves a note expressing his desire that Eric should inherit the house, but his will is destroyed by Henry. Yet, this act does not put an end to Eric's connection to Walter's house. When, attracted by a young aspiring actor (a solid performance from Samuel H Levine), Toby decides to break his and Eric's engagement to be married, Eric starts looking for the company of Henry who is in mourning for Walter himself. After a moving visit to Walter's house, their friendship blossoms into a relationship that leads to a difficult marriage. In fact, unlike Eric, Henry is a staunch Republican with a self-centred view of life. These differences and the meeting with Leo, a young HIV-positive rent boy deserted by Toby, ultimately force Eric to question the meaning of his own life, his marriage, and his commitment towards others. It is only when Eric seeks refuge in Walter's house and realises his legacy that he is finally able to get all the answers he needs about himself. Overall, The Inheritance is a complex and fascinating journey in the lives of men facing loss, doubt, and the need to understand what the meaning of being gay is in a world where rights cannot be taken for granted. Thanks to its humanity, the play is full of humour and moving passages, such as Walter's touching monologue about Peter, the first friend with AIDS that he helped, and Eric's arrival at the country house where Walter's legacy is palpable even after his death. Moreover, with his sensitive exploration of the legacy of past generations, exemplified here by Walter's house, Lopez remarks on the important value of a “safe place” where people at odds with society for various reasons can express themselves and find some peace. What makes The Inheritance particularly poignant is that by highlighting how Walter's altruism during the AIDS epidemic inspires Eric's ultimate decision to follow his example and help those in need, the play identifies a valuable legacy of the past in the commitment to be connected and compassionate towards others. A powerful reminder that, important as it was in creating a spirit of community for gay men in the years after the emergence of AIDS, a compassionate spirit should remain a value to cherish and promote at both the individual and societal level even today. The Inheritance, Part 1 and Part 2 Written by Matthew Lopez Directed by Stephen Daldry Young Vic, London, UK March 2–19, 2018 https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/the-inheritance The Inheritance, Part 1 and Part 2 Written by Matthew Lopez Directed by Stephen Daldry Young Vic, London, UK March 2–19, 2018 https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/the-inheritance