Study Guide

Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika Act 5, Scene 6

By Tony Kushner

Act 5, Scene 6

(Note: This scene is optional and is usually left out of productions.)
Waking through the streets of Heaven, Prior runs into Rabbi Isidor Chemelwitz and Sarah Ironson, who are playing cards.
Sarah is Louis' grandmother, whose funeral the Rabbi presided over at the beginning of Millennium Approaches.
Prior asks if they know the way out.
Then he recognizes them, telling Sarah that he was at her funeral.
Sarah seems to only speak Yiddish, so the Rabbi translates for her.
Prior tells Sarah that Louis is gay.
"Oy," says Sarah (5.6.11).
She and the Rabbi start playing cards again.
Prior asks why everybody in Heaven plays cards. Rabbi Isidor tells him it's because in Heaven all the great answers are known, but in a pack of cards surprises still exist.
Prior tells the Rabbi he wants to go home.
The Rabbi does a little chanting and the ladder appears.
Prior starts to climb down.
Sarah (with the Rabbi translating) tells Prior to giver her grandson a message: "You should struggle with the Almighty. [...] It's the Jewish way" (5.6.21-24).