… has died at 81 of coronavirus.
The play/movie is hilarious, very very angry (AIDS is killing everybody), and supremely human. Here’s the famous monologue by Buzz, a musical theater fanatic (You can watch Nathan Lane perform it here, at 9:40):
Perry, just once I would love to see a "West Side Story" where everyone gets it. The Jets and the Shark and Officer Krupke, too, while we're at it. What's he doing? Sneaking away from the theater? Get back here and die like everyone else, you son of a bitch! I wanna see a "Sound of Music" where the entire Von Trapp family dies in an authentic alpine avalanche, or a "Kiss me, Kate" where she's got a huge cold sore on her mouth. Oh, God. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." And the only thing that happens is nothing! And it's not funny! And they all go down waiting! Waiting for what? Waiting for nothing, like everyone I know or care about is-- including myself.