Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ryan J. Haddad’s DARK DISABLED STORIES sheds exposing light on the realities of the disabled

• By drediman
• March 9, 2023
• No Comments

Also tonight, Ryan J. Haddad’s new play Dark Disabled Stories opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater. Essentially, the play is a collection of autobiographical vignettes about living life with a disability. Although a good majority of the stories are Haddad’s (centering on his experience living with cerebral palsy), his co-stars Dickie Hearts (who is deaf) and Alejandra Ospina (who cannot walk) also get a chance in the spotlight to give tell their stories and perspectives.

Those of you familiar with Haddad’s work in the theater know what you’re in for. Indeed, in his latest creation, Haddad once again taps into his life as an out and proud gay man living with cerebral palsy in the big city. What distinguishes Dark Disabled Stories from his previous works is its elegant symmetry and equally elegant staging. Director Jordan Fein has given the play a stylish, strikingly spare staging (kudos particularly to lighting designer Oona Curley and Video designer Kameron Neal) that turns accessibility – the show is thoroughly captioned, signed, and audio described – into an aesthetic.

The trio of performances are candid, articulate, and deliberately positioned. In turn harrowing, sobering, humorous, and sexy, their exposing performances lay bare the complexity and subtleties of life with a disability. Over the course of the show’s swift 75-minute run time, they examine their situations from many angles, all the while gorgeously maintaining their humanity throughout. They don’t ask for sympathy, only understanding.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DARK DISABLED STORIES
Off-Broadway, Play
The Public Theater
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Through March 26