Theatre Review: Magic 8 Ball Approaches Autism’s Spectrum
In this world, difference is treated with distance. It is as if to live life differently, with particular needs or wants, causes people to treat you like you are from or belong in a different planet. For George F Steeves, his life with Aspergers could feel or be seen by others like a Magic 8 Ball; you simply shake it and see what “luck” defines you.
For one night at The Kraine Theater, located on E 4th Street, Magic 8 Ball: My Life With Aspergers was funny, informative, and thought-provoking because, frankly, not many know about Aspergers. While news reels feel defined by mothers pushing anti-vaccination, because no science proves it avoids Autism, most of us do not know what this condition entails and that it even has a spectrum. Thus, George has his tweeks, quirks, and unique ways of approaching life, but, as you see in his show, so does every human being.
Magic 8 Ball (My Life with Asperger’s)
Magic 8 Ball is written and stars George, directed by Crystal and Penni Wilson. The 60 minute, one man show explains his life from childhood to his present, and moves the audience to realize the foolishness of believing that Aspergers signifies “unfeeling.” If it is portrayed, it is often displayed as a cold person obsessed with distinct routines and misunderstanding of emotions. Yet, all George has ever done in his life is feel and try to understand how and if others felt anything for him; sounds like the core dilemma to my existence. From trying to fit in with the “punks” in high-school to defining his sexuality, Aspergers did not stop him from the natural, “Who Am I?” moments of life; something he shows through humor and the shake of a Magic 8 Ball.
From auditioning and failing at American Idol to trying to make friends through acting class, you laugh and feel crushed with George. He has such a bright energy; constantly up and moving as if life is a train you could miss. Such a perspective explains his choices and his eagerness for things to go right, of which most of his questions to the Magic 8 Ball revolve on whether a choice will go right and lead to “better things.” In an unsurprising twist, most of the time, the answer is no. Life does not stop hurting you because you have a dream or autism.
I remember going to an event where Guillermo Del Toro was speaking about how people avoid darkness, especially with children. If there are two topics nobody knows how to approach, it is sex and death, of which George waltzes into those taboos. Yet, similar to children, he explains how people treat those with Autism as if underestimation or isolation is “protection.” In essence, if I do not invite you to the party, you will never know that you were uninvited because people think you are weird. Yet, darkness, or the knowledge of other people’s shadiness towards you. is unavoidable, and George F Steeves’ shows that hope and humor is the only way to go through this inevitable.
