Self-Injurious Behavior
Reviewed by Julia Stier
Theatre 68
Through September 28
RECOMMENDED
After committing her son who has autism to a full-time care facility to prevent him from injuring himself, Summer (Jessica Cavanagh) is struggling to cope. Even after her sisters, Sage and Harmony, whisk her away to a renaissance faire for the weekend, she remains undistracted, still plagued with feelings of guilt and fear. In a series of meltdowns and memories, her life as a parent emerges.
Written by Cavanagh and directed by Marianne Galloway, Self-Injurious Behavior is a difficult yet beautiful, semi-autobiographical account of the playwright’s experience. The play chronicles her joy and pain, love and heartache, and shares with audiences the challenges and hard decisions that she has had to make.
This show spans the full spectrum of emotions. Moments of intensity are juxtaposed with scenes filled with effortless comedy, which helps ease the tension. Each character has a specific point of view, and their strong and clear relationships bring forth performances that emanate from a place of truth.
Cavanagh delivers a truly moving performance as Summer. She is open with her story and doesn’t hold back the more heart-wrenching details. As Summer’s son, Benjamin, Jude Segrest sensitively portrays some of the physical manifestations of autism with meticulous specificity. Summer’s two sisters, Sage (Janie Haddad Tompkins) and Harmony (Cavanagh’s real-life sister, Jillian Cavanagh), serve as calm voices of reason in Summer’s moments of panic. The sisters’ campmates at the renaissance faire include the narcissistic yet kind Sebastian (Mitch Lerner), the belly dancer, Ashley (Madison Calhoun) and Gina (Gisla Stringer), a mother of three boys who is happy for the temporary escape the faire provides. And finally, there’s Jake (Johnathan Brooks Freeman), Summer’s ex-husband. Their relationship is the most poignant, as it serves to illustrate how the stress of parenting a child with special needs can sometimes take a toll on a marriage.
Not only are the performances on point, the technical elements also greatly enhance the storytelling. Scenic designer Brad Bentz transforms the space into a colorful camp in the woods that provides a vibrant backdrop for the action. Jake Nice’s sound design and lighting by Matthew Richter help distinguish between past and present, dream and reality.
The production is presented in special partnership with Autism Works Now (AWN), an organization that provides expressive movement therapy and workplace readiness skills to those with autism and related disorders.
Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through Sep. 28. www.sibonstage.com. Running time: one hour and 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
