Cast stretch beyond stereotypes

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Author: REVIEW Ilona Hanne
• Publication title: Stratford Press

Shindler’s play has been critiqued by some in the neurodiverse community as leaning into a tired narrative that autism is a disruptive force, with meltdowns, unreasonable (to the neurotypical community) behaviours and other characteristics that can be mined for humour, rather than viewed sympathetically

Aware of this critique, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy the play, and was definitely on edge as the curtain lifted.

Once Jasmine Gallagher stepped onto the stage, however, in her role as the autistic young adult, Sarah, I felt myself relax.

Gallagher is an actor as thoughtful as she is talented, and under Sharren Read’s direction she brings her character’s neurodiversity to life in a sympathetic and nuanced way.

Gallagher beautifully kept the balance of bringing her character’s stated neurodiverse traits to life without ever falling into unkind comedy. Her voice work in particular was outstanding, bringing a specific tonality and repetitiveness that captured her character’s uniqueness.

The backstage team behind wardrobe and hair did a fantastic job as well in creating a look for the character of Sarah that was distinctive without straying into caricature territory.

As Sarah’s brother-in-law Dan, Josh McKee was excellent.

His role could, with a lesser actor in the part, push the play into an uncomfortable space, but instead he drew the audience in, taking them with him on his journey of discovering neurodiversity in all its forms, from the bits that we find easy to love, to the bits that are frustrating or even unintentionally hurtful at times to those living alongside it.

It’s through his character that the audience get to know Sarah — it’s through his experience of meeting her for the first time, and learning to live with her that the audience see how her behaviours and needs can be viewed by those who haven’t known her all her life.

While the play’s script and direction sometimes lean into ableist tropes, McKee doesn’t let his character draw the audience into some sense of mockery or dislike of Sarah’s neurodiversity, but instead takes them on a journey with him as he gets to know, and actually care for, his sister-in-law as a person.

As Kate, Sarah’s sister, Briar Tucker has a challenging role, but it’s one she makes...