Horizon Theatre’s ‘Love, M’ Is A Story Of Acceptance During The AIDS Crisis

Premiering on World AIDS Day, Horizon Theatre Company’s latest play, “Love, M,” is a deeply personal story of two families set during the dawn of the AIDS crisis. The play, written by Clarinda Ross, is told through two mothers’ letters during the time. 

“’Love, M’ is based on extensive conversations with mothers from the last pandemic. I wanted to understand those mothers and their stories before we lost them. Ultimately, I came home to a very personal story full of humor, humanity and the healing power of love, acceptance, and the thing we all crave… connection,” says Ross.

Ross and actor Terry Burrell joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to discuss the play, and it’s message of love and acceptance for all.

“Love, M” is available to stream free online until Dec. 31.

Interview Highlights:

Ross on the inspiration for writing the play:

“I had recently reconnected with the mother of a friend of mine, the first person that I knew to die of AIDS. His name is Christian Hesler. We were together at the Alliance, where we studied from 83 to 85. And he was the first person that I knew personally to die of AIDS. And I just reconnected with his mother after many years…and I thought I need to really understand these mothers, and what they went through being there at the forefront of it.”

On what the climate was like during the ’80s AIDS pandemic:

“It was so scary. We just didn’t have a lot of information. There was so much fear. And there were like nurses that would leave the trays outside the room not want to go in the room with the patient. And that happened to my friend Christian there. Nobody knew exactly how it was transmitted. There was just a lot of misinformation, a lot of fear and a lot of prejudice.”

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