192 - As Is: The First AIDS Play
Added 2025-06-04 07:00:09 +0000 UTCThis lads kick off pride month by revisiting an oft-forgotten but foundational play in the queer canon: William M. Hoffman’s As Is. Topics include the history of the AIDS play, Hoffman’s exquisite weaponization of comedy in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and the legacy of a 90 minute play that inspired an entire genre of theater.
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Media Referenced in this Episode:
As Is by William M. Hoffman. 1985.
AIDS-Involved Drama Syndrome by William M. Hoffman. Poz Magazine. February 1st, 1997.
TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com
Interstitial: “Writer’s Block” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “A.J. Ditty”
Additional Voices for As Is Excerpts: Anne Huston, Eleanor Philips, Dara Swisher and Brent Shultz
Comments
I always like to hear about plays from y’all because I very rarely . . . truly *get*plays. It’s not a medium I find easy to engage with or follow, and I find the context and ways of thinking you bring to plays to be very interesting and helpful in making not just these plays, but plays in general, more accessible to me. ETA: Which is to say, thank you for the obscure plays eps, I super appreciate them.
Heather
2025-07-19 19:05:23 +0000 UTClate listening to this, but thanks all y’all for sharing. brian, i love your mind and your heart so much ❤️
Caroline
2025-07-08 22:08:05 +0000 UTC
