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source: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050811/ENTERTAINMENT/108110101/-1/news
New musical explores complexity of autism
By TOM KRESSLER
Telegraph Correspondent
Although the ages of the actors at Andy’s Summer Playhouse range from 8-18, don’t expect anything childish emerging from their summer stage.
“Most of us who work here totally despise child theater,” said Bob Lawson, artistic diirector of Andy’s and writer of the upcoming musical, “Tabula Rasa.” “A lot of our work is very complex. Some of the kids may not get a lot of the meaning, but they are totally engaged.”
“Tabula Rasa,” which opens today and runs through Aug. 21, is an original musical interweaving three convergent storylines: the first a creative retelling of the Wild Boy of Averyon, a true story of a boy in 19th-century France assumed to have been raised by wolves; the second about a 21st-century autistic girl named Emily who is confined in a medicated state; and the third an incorporation of the classic “Hansel and Gretel” tale originally told by the Brothers Grimm.“It is really about what we do as a civilization to define normalcy and what we do to make people normal – however that is defined – such as prescribing medication,” explained Lawson.
“The Wild Boy is assumed to be lost in the forest and raised by wolves, Emily is lost in a forest of medication, and Hansel and Gretel are literally lost in the forest. The story is about how all of these children find their way through their own literal or metaphorical forests,” he continued.
The heady subject matter and strict professionalism of the staff belie the youth of the actors. But it is precisely this focus on quality that makes Andy’s Summer Playhouse so compelling.“A lot of the kids who come back may not have fully understood it at the time, but they end up appreciating it after,” said Henry Akona, the show’s director, who has worked on and off with Andy’s for the past nine years. “They may not consciously understand it but they always emotionally understand it.”
Although the story for “Tabula Rasa” originally developed with attention deficit disorder as its focus, Lawson eventually decided autism would more fittingly illustrate the themes he hoped to explore.
“With an autistic child, there are moments that are heartbreaking, maddening or just plain absurd,” said Lawson, drawing upon the experience of his good friend, whose daughter is autistic. “This show captures all of that really well.”
Both Akona and Lawson have personal connections with autism. Akona’s childhood friend also had the disorder.As Lawson explained, those with autism often lose the ability to separate competing sensations from their surrounding environments. Through complex musical phrasing and a script that borders on the abstract, the production seeks to emulate the anxiety produced by this affliction.
“A lot of the aspects of autism are achieved theatrically,” said Lawson. “It actually gives people the opportunity to see what it is like to be autistic.”
Through the writing and direction, Lawson and Akona remain committed to portraying Emily, the autistic character, with sensitivity and accuracy. A large piece of the story explores the meaning society affixes to those considered different or not sufficiently normal.
“It is more about other people’s reactions to (Emily),” explained Akona. “We try to be honest, do a lot of research and just let the character exist.”
Andy’s Summer Playhouse in Wilton has been producing shows by children for people of all ages for 35 years. It offers tutelage in every aspect of performance and alternate programs for young playwrights and directors. During the summer, it stages three productions, all with original writing and music provided by its professional staff.
For youth, Andy’s offers them unique opportunities to intensively study musical theater alongside veteran artistic and technical directors. It is an empowering experience that develops serious, mature performers and stages shows with a quality that tends to shock many outside observers.
“Andy’s has totally changed my life. Socially, it has been amazing. I am so lucky to have found this,” said 17-year-old Kirsten White. She has been involved with Andy’s productions for nine years and plays Madame Guerin in “Tabula Rasa.”
Many Andy’s kids pursue professional acting after surpassing the Andy’s age limit. High Fidelity Theater (www.highfidelitytheater.org), based out of New York City, is a group composed entirely of Andy’s alumni. They returned to Wilton earlier this summer to stage a production of Lawson’s “The Architecture of Sight” at the Playhouse.
Nineteen-year-old Ethan Selby, who plays Victor the Wild Boy of Averyon, will attend the University of Southern Maine in the fall to study theater. “Tabula Rasa” is his 25th play and marks his ninth and final year as an Andy’s kid.
“They give you so much direction here,” he said. “Everyone has been so amazing.”
Andy’s young actors portray the complex subject matter with astounding sophistication, although it is anomalous at times to view children and teenagers performing work that would be equally comfortable in any New York City art house.
But in the staff’s professionalism and high expectations lies a deep respect for the capabilities of their young performers. Viewed through this lens, it would be demeaning to expect anything less from them strictly because of their age.
From their actors, the staff unfailingly receives dedication, discipline, and enthusiasm in every show staged at Andy’s Summer Playhouse. In return, they cultivate highly skilled performers and truly exceptional young adults along the way.
“I would say that there is nothing like Andy’s between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans,” Lawson said. “One of our youngest performers, eleven-year-old Sadie Rose Zevgrin, has been reading Plato. She says it is because the script talks about Plato so much she felt she needed to read him. That is a classic Andy’s kid.”
New musical explores complexity of autism
By TOM KRESSLER
Telegraph Correspondent
Although the ages of the actors at Andy’s Summer Playhouse range from 8-18, don’t expect anything childish emerging from their summer stage.
“Most of us who work here totally despise child theater,” said Bob Lawson, artistic diirector of Andy’s and writer of the upcoming musical, “Tabula Rasa.” “A lot of our work is very complex. Some of the kids may not get a lot of the meaning, but they are totally engaged.”
“Tabula Rasa,” which opens today and runs through Aug. 21, is an original musical interweaving three convergent storylines: the first a creative retelling of the Wild Boy of Averyon, a true story of a boy in 19th-century France assumed to have been raised by wolves; the second about a 21st-century autistic girl named Emily who is confined in a medicated state; and the third an incorporation of the classic “Hansel and Gretel” tale originally told by the Brothers Grimm.“It is really about what we do as a civilization to define normalcy and what we do to make people normal – however that is defined – such as prescribing medication,” explained Lawson.
“The Wild Boy is assumed to be lost in the forest and raised by wolves, Emily is lost in a forest of medication, and Hansel and Gretel are literally lost in the forest. The story is about how all of these children find their way through their own literal or metaphorical forests,” he continued.
The heady subject matter and strict professionalism of the staff belie the youth of the actors. But it is precisely this focus on quality that makes Andy’s Summer Playhouse so compelling.“A lot of the kids who come back may not have fully understood it at the time, but they end up appreciating it after,” said Henry Akona, the show’s director, who has worked on and off with Andy’s for the past nine years. “They may not consciously understand it but they always emotionally understand it.”
Although the story for “Tabula Rasa” originally developed with attention deficit disorder as its focus, Lawson eventually decided autism would more fittingly illustrate the themes he hoped to explore.
“With an autistic child, there are moments that are heartbreaking, maddening or just plain absurd,” said Lawson, drawing upon the experience of his good friend, whose daughter is autistic. “This show captures all of that really well.”
Both Akona and Lawson have personal connections with autism. Akona’s childhood friend also had the disorder.As Lawson explained, those with autism often lose the ability to separate competing sensations from their surrounding environments. Through complex musical phrasing and a script that borders on the abstract, the production seeks to emulate the anxiety produced by this affliction.
“A lot of the aspects of autism are achieved theatrically,” said Lawson. “It actually gives people the opportunity to see what it is like to be autistic.”
Through the writing and direction, Lawson and Akona remain committed to portraying Emily, the autistic character, with sensitivity and accuracy. A large piece of the story explores the meaning society affixes to those considered different or not sufficiently normal.
“It is more about other people’s reactions to (Emily),” explained Akona. “We try to be honest, do a lot of research and just let the character exist.”
Andy’s Summer Playhouse in Wilton has been producing shows by children for people of all ages for 35 years. It offers tutelage in every aspect of performance and alternate programs for young playwrights and directors. During the summer, it stages three productions, all with original writing and music provided by its professional staff.
For youth, Andy’s offers them unique opportunities to intensively study musical theater alongside veteran artistic and technical directors. It is an empowering experience that develops serious, mature performers and stages shows with a quality that tends to shock many outside observers.
“Andy’s has totally changed my life. Socially, it has been amazing. I am so lucky to have found this,” said 17-year-old Kirsten White. She has been involved with Andy’s productions for nine years and plays Madame Guerin in “Tabula Rasa.”
Many Andy’s kids pursue professional acting after surpassing the Andy’s age limit. High Fidelity Theater (www.highfidelitytheater.org), based out of New York City, is a group composed entirely of Andy’s alumni. They returned to Wilton earlier this summer to stage a production of Lawson’s “The Architecture of Sight” at the Playhouse.
Nineteen-year-old Ethan Selby, who plays Victor the Wild Boy of Averyon, will attend the University of Southern Maine in the fall to study theater. “Tabula Rasa” is his 25th play and marks his ninth and final year as an Andy’s kid.
“They give you so much direction here,” he said. “Everyone has been so amazing.”
Andy’s young actors portray the complex subject matter with astounding sophistication, although it is anomalous at times to view children and teenagers performing work that would be equally comfortable in any New York City art house.
But in the staff’s professionalism and high expectations lies a deep respect for the capabilities of their young performers. Viewed through this lens, it would be demeaning to expect anything less from them strictly because of their age.
From their actors, the staff unfailingly receives dedication, discipline, and enthusiasm in every show staged at Andy’s Summer Playhouse. In return, they cultivate highly skilled performers and truly exceptional young adults along the way.
“I would say that there is nothing like Andy’s between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans,” Lawson said. “One of our youngest performers, eleven-year-old Sadie Rose Zevgrin, has been reading Plato. She says it is because the script talks about Plato so much she felt she needed to read him. That is a classic Andy’s kid.”