How to Present Autism on Stage?

Two interesting-sounding theatrical productions about autism, Silas and Silas the Teenager, are being put on this weekend and next by the Everett Dance Theatre in in Providence, Rhode Island. Aaron Jungels, who created both works, has a nephew on the autism spectrum. Today's Providence Journal highlights the production's use of technology to "convey the condition of autism"; according to the Providence Journal, the show is "essentially a primer on the condition." The plays use "live narration and music from a four-piece band, video images and movement," as well as video technology: Images of Silas are projected onto an "enormous exercise ball," the circular panel behind a ceiling fan, a hole in the floor:

Images are projected on isolated and sometimes moving objects so that it seems those objects have become the stuff of the projection, kind of audible holograms.

All the projections are of Silas, talking, answering questions of his uncle. But Silas (by projection) is inside an enormous exercise ball that rolls across the floor, or on a curtain that’s pulled across the stage.

Silas is always in his own world of autism, though he can enter the world at large. But others can never enter his world.

“I can walk right to the border with him,” Jungels says. “But I can’t cross over."

There are also videos of Silas and of his family members.

The projection of Silas' image onto the objects is intriguing, especially as some of the objects---the large exercise ball and the ceiling fan---are objects that have been known to attract the (at times obsessive) attention of individuals on the spectrum; makes me wonder if a member of the audience might be drawn to look at those objects with the same fascination/fixation as I've seen my son once (indeed) contemplateceiling fans. (And, Charlie also used to love rolling and riding around on a big exercise ball.)

While the Providence Journal describes the show as a "primer on autism," the article itself is a little under-informed about autism. "You wouldn’t think a presentation about autism would be entertaining. But it is when coupled with artistry and a masterful use of technology," the article opens; it's also said that the production is

.....not especially cheerful or uplifting. But it is, at times, touching and heartwarming. And, most importantly, it is transcending in its ability to convey the condition of autism.

But why should it be assumed that a show about autism should be "cheerful" or "uplifting"---why can't it be, perhaps, difficult on its audience and get people to think differently? Need a show on autism be "touching and heartwarming"? As Dora wrote yesterday, autistic adults are not large children and we need to move on from expecting that a story about autism should "touch our hearts" or evoke some such sentimental response---understanding autism involves a lot more.