Drizzle Boy at Queensland &932heatre

Drizzle Boy at Queensland &932heatre

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Posted 2023-03-24 by Marina Marangos follow
Drizzle Boy at Queensland & #932 ;heatre

Why Drizzle Boy I wondered as I took my seat. Well, if you have seen Rain Man that might give you a clue but we shall leave that for later. This is the latest production of Queensland Theatre and it is on until the 31st of March 2033. Tickets are selling fast so if you have a chance - go.


This is the Queensland Premier's Drama Award Winner. It is written by Ryan Enniss. This is his first play and I suspect not his last. It is partly based on his own lived experience as a person who has autism and part of his motivation for writing this is to present a new and more accurate depiction of neurodivergent people on stage.

It is the story of an autistic young man's path to university, to meeting new people and a girl who likes him. It is his way of managing his caring but sometimes clueless parents who do their very best for him and it is his journey with his much-loved snow bear tucked firmly in his backpack or in his arms.

The play is directed by Daniel Evans, who has done a marvellous job at getting the absolute maximum from the three actors who inhabit a fair few roles in the play. There is Drizzle Boy played by Daniel R Nixon - a neurodivergent actor in his first role. Naomi Price, who plays five roles and Kevin Spink, who plays four roles.
Their many costume changes and roles are not only impressive and slick but also add gloriously to this fast-paced coming-of-age story unfolding on a simple yet effective stage with revolving "Susans" as the director described them. The stage manager is Kat O'Halloran and Matt Scott is the Lighting Designer. The play is awash with light changes and differing noise levels and there are warnings about them at the beginning of the play.

Drizzle Boy is on stage for the entire play - the play is written with no intermission. That in itself is a feat. Hugely admiring of the performance of this young man who has inhabited the soul and sense of Drizzle Boy - his name given to him as a lesser more intermittent Rain Man?

The other two actors are excellent in all their roles - it is hard to choose which I liked best but I loved the dad in his Birkenstocks and his socks pulled up and his need to connect with his son. The mum's love and care are evident throughout and can be quite challenging for her own son. The professor, the Russian Cosmonaut, goodness there is so much richness and stimulation for all of us.

The play is raw and says things as they are. It is occasionally loud. It had the audience cheering and clapping along. It has hilarious laugh-out-loud moments as well as moments when there is a collective intake of breath. This is a play that does not leave your side for one moment and it is a triumph for neurodivergent depiction in Australia and for audiences.

Drizzle Boy is on at Queensland Theatre until the 31st of March 2023. To book your tickets go here .

#performing_arts
#south_bank
#theatre
#theatre -reviews
#march
%wnbrisbane
202436 - 2023-06-16 05:16:01

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