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“…yet to be proud of one's intelligence, talent, looks, or achievement has always seemed to me to betray a misunderstanding of the whimsical shake of the dice that grants us, or fails to grant us, our humanity.”
—Joyce Carol Oates Nighthawk: A Memoir of Lost Time |
Wild Boy
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"Sonkin masterfully directs this cast with a sense of warmth, humor, heart, and seriousness all mixed and combined in just the right ways." . --Talkin' Broadway * TBA Recommended Production * Theatre Eddys Pick for Top 10 Plays |
In July 2016, Ken directed Oliver Goldstick's taut and poetic play Wild Boy at Dragon Theatre in Redwood City. Based on the book Not Even Wrong by Paul Collins, it's the story of his son's autism as a voyage into the realm of permanent outsiders who are often profoundly misunderstood. Wild Boy is a haunting journey into the borderlands of neurology; a meditation on what is "normal," and how human connection comes to us in strange and wondrous forms.
Meet the Cast
Top Row: Ryan O’Donnell, Olivia Haas, Johnathan Tierney, and Isabel Siragusa.
Bottom Row: John Stephen King, Mary Lou Torre, and Bryan Moriarty.
Bottom Row: John Stephen King, Mary Lou Torre, and Bryan Moriarty.
Director's Notes
Inside the church where Peter, the Wild Boy is buried, there is a brass tablet that reads: “But proving himself incapable of speaking, or of receiving any instruction, a comfortable provision was made for him at a farm in this parish, where he continued to the end of his inoffensive life.” During the Age of Enlightenment, Peter was scrutinized and poked and prodded so that the great thinkers of his time might pass judgment on him in order to better understand their own existence. He was a simple man who required very little out of life, but circumstance was such that he was held up to the collective mirror of society and it was concluded: he must not possess a soul because he couldn’t speak.
I am always attracted to stories that deal with the question: “What is normal?” I love how this piece explores relationships in all their human complexity—and that it offers no easy answers. This is not a play about understanding, but rather acceptance. Understanding is an intellectual exercise and because we can never truly “understand” one another, we often default to judgment. But to be compassionate with those who are different than us, to connect with them on their terms (language isn’t necessary), and to be open to what they can teach us—these are the lessons this story reckons with and asks us to consider.
I am always attracted to stories that deal with the question: “What is normal?” I love how this piece explores relationships in all their human complexity—and that it offers no easy answers. This is not a play about understanding, but rather acceptance. Understanding is an intellectual exercise and because we can never truly “understand” one another, we often default to judgment. But to be compassionate with those who are different than us, to connect with them on their terms (language isn’t necessary), and to be open to what they can teach us—these are the lessons this story reckons with and asks us to consider.
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“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree,
it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” —Albert Einstein |
The world of autism is a mystery, but working on Wild Boy has exposed me to so many people who are trying to de-mystify this complex disorder. They are dedicated to bringing dignity and grace to families who deal with this condition every day. While the universal symbol for autism is a jigsaw puzzle piece, Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D., shared with me that she sees this condition as “more of a mosaic.” Autism is not a disorder with a right or wrong solution like a puzzle. But is, rather, for each person on the spectrum, a unique amalgam of abilities and challenges. To the numerous autism experts and workers with special needs children, you have my heartfelt thanks for letting us peek into your world. You are some of the most patient and courageous people I’ve known.
Cast and director post-show discussion for WILD BOY. Dragon Theatre. Photo by Celia Maurice.
Oliver’s stage adaptation is taut, poetic, funny, painful, and terribly human. I feel very privileged to have been a part of his journey on this very special work, and am grateful for his support and his insights during the rehearsal process. I also want to thank Paul Collins and his family for their generosity, and for helping us all breathe life into the people in this play. To the dedicated and gifted company of Dragon Theatre actors, designers, and technicians, I am eternally grateful. Your sensitivity to the material, coupled with your talents, your passion, and your humor, has not only made this an incredibly satisfying project for me, you have created a provocative and moving evening of theater.
Ken Sonkin, Director
Wild Boy, July 2016
Thanks to Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D. (SFSU), June Madsen Clausen, Ph.D., (Department of Psychology, USF), Janelle Franco (Sunset Elementary), Matthew Robert Reedy, Kara Schinella, Daryl Tran, (Grattan Elementary), Amy Kossow, David Neufeld, Ph.D., The Peralta Family, Callie Floor (A.C.T. Costume Shop), Jeff Palmer, Marilyn Fox and Sarah Newman (Pacific Resident Theater), Christine Young and the Performing Arts and Social Justice Program at USF, …and to Oliver, Bud, Francesca, and Mary Beth.
Special thanks to Paul, Jennifer, Marc, Bramwell, and Morgan.
Ken Sonkin, Director
Wild Boy, July 2016
Thanks to Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D. (SFSU), June Madsen Clausen, Ph.D., (Department of Psychology, USF), Janelle Franco (Sunset Elementary), Matthew Robert Reedy, Kara Schinella, Daryl Tran, (Grattan Elementary), Amy Kossow, David Neufeld, Ph.D., The Peralta Family, Callie Floor (A.C.T. Costume Shop), Jeff Palmer, Marilyn Fox and Sarah Newman (Pacific Resident Theater), Christine Young and the Performing Arts and Social Justice Program at USF, …and to Oliver, Bud, Francesca, and Mary Beth.
Special thanks to Paul, Jennifer, Marc, Bramwell, and Morgan.
Meet the Production Team
Production Team: Scenic and Lighting Design by Joshua McDermott, Costume Design by Brooke Jennings, Props Design by Benicia Martinez, Sound Design by Ken Sonkin, Dialect Coach Kimberly Mohn Hill, Movement by Natalie Greene, Production Manager Taylor Frampton, and Stage Managed by Jesse Ploog.
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