This isn’t some crazy think-piece article about how AIDS is actually a good thing that I wrote in a hazy fever dream. The title sounds way more alarming than it actually is, I promise.
What this is actually about is University of Florida student Andrew Quimby’s writing debut for his original play, “Thank God for AIDS.” (See, I told you it wasn’t crazy.)
I had been seeing signs around campus this past week and obviously these signs have a certain, “You’ve got to come look at me because I have this crazy statement” look about them. After I found out that it was just a play my shock wore off, but then curiosity crept in to replace those feelings.
I realized that I actually had met and worked with Andrew a few months ago on a web series. I messaged him on Facebook and he was kind enough to answer a few questions about his experience with the project.
Gainesville Scene: What’s a brief synopsis for the play?
Andrew Quimby: “Thank God For AIDS” is about a teenager named Pace from Topeka, Kansas who gets involved with a fundamentalist Christian church. Over the course of the play, he is torn between the charismatic leader of the church and his family. And then some crazy stuff happens. And there’re some jokes.
GS: How long have you been working on this project?
AQ: About a year-and-a-half. It floated around in my head for a while and then I took a playwriting class at UF last semester. It was my final project, then I continued to work on it over the summer and into fall.
GS: Where did you draw your inspiration from?
AQ: The play was inspired by the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church. While the play is nearly entirely fictional, there are some connections.
GS: Have you written anything like this in the past?
AQ: I’ve written a couple screenplays, but this was the first full play. So here’s hoping it’s a good start.
I had a chance to see the play on Saturday afternoon, and it was nothing short of a great debut from a promising young writer. It has quite a bit of heart, some smart laughs and great performances, especially from Thomas Nightingale who portrays Pace’s brother.
If you haven’t seen a production from the Florida Players before, I highly recommend checking this one out. “Thank God for AIDS” opened Friday December 4 at the Black Box Theatre in McGuire Pavilion, and will run until Sunday night. Tickets are free and can be found on the Florida Players website, or by showing up prior to the performance.
