A SWEET, QUEER, NEURODIVERGENT LOVE STORY
Open Space Arts’ Chicago premiere of Light Switch by Dave Osmundsen is a charming play with representation that is refreshing to see on stage. The play follows Henry Sullivan, a queer man on the autism spectrum, as he tries to find a love that stands up to the fervor of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. He first tries, very unsuccessfully, to find it in his childhood friend played by Dylan McCumber as they role play the book. Then he hopes for it again with a stranger he meets at a party, Joseph, played by a charming Peter Manuel Young. But perhaps the love he’s looking for has been with him all along in his roommate and best friend, Rogie, played by a very sweet Henry DelBello.
Phillip Andrew Monnett as Henry and Dylan McCumber as Aaron
Osmundsen, writing from his own experience as an autistic gay man, eloquently communicates Henry’s internal experience throughout. One particularly successful example is in the scene that gives us the title of the play, where Henry describes what it feels like to have Asperger’s syndrome. He explains that he has a light switch inside him. It can only be on or off, nothing in between, and the only thing that flips his switch is 19th-century British literature. He loves to learn about and talk about all things related to this niche interest, often to this dismay of people he’s trying to connect with. Other people have many light switches, and they can be turned on just partway. For Henry, it’s all or nothing.
Dylan McCumber as Kein and Phillip Andrew Monnett as Henry
It helps that Henry is in good hands with actor Phillip Andrew Monnett, who does an incredible job embodying Henry with hyper-specific mannerisms. I was surprised to see bits of my brother, who has Asperger’s himself, in Monnett’s portrayal of Henry. I was impressed that Monnett, who isn’t on the autism spectrum to my knowledge, was able to so authentically bring the character to life.
Hilary Hensler as Marian and Phillip Andrew Monnett as Henry
While the play does an amazing job of explaining Henry’s inner workings, it overexplains in other areas. The play is non-linear, taking us from Henry’s childhood to a party when he’s 27 to his dorm room at 21, and each time a recorded voice chimes in to tell us Henry’s age and location. I think the audience deserves a little more credit. Even with a minimal set, locations are clear enough without a voiceover. There are a few scenes where it’s important to know roughly how much time has passed, but Osmundsen often incorporates some indication of passage of time within the scene itself, so the voiceover feels redundant and slows down the pacing. That’s such a small complaint though about this very authentic and moving play.
Phillip Andrew Monnett as Henry and Peter Manuel Young as Joseph
Director Michael D. Graham impressively fits Light Switch into Open Space Arts’ incredibly small 20-seat space. I think this might be the smallest theatre I’ve ever seen a show in, but the close-up, personal space worked very well for this intimate play. With what I imagine was a very tiny budget, set designer Rick Paul put together a very adaptable set to fit the play’s needs, and Adie Sutherland pulled together simple but very effective costumes. While I’d love to see Light Switch make its way into a bigger theatre one day, I think Open Space Arts’ did it justice.
Phillip Andrew Monnett as Henry, Peter Manuel Young as Joseph, Henry DelBello as Rogie
There’s much to love about Light Switch, from the neurodivergent representation to Henry and Rogie’s adorable, loving relationship (Henry read’s Rogie Jane Eyre to help him fall asleep! I want that!). This heartwarming love story might teach you something, not just about what it’s like to be autistic, but also about what it’s like to love.
photos by Tadhg Mitchel
Light Switch
Open Space Arts, 1411 W Wilson
Fri and Sat at 7:30; Sun at 2
ends on October 13, 2024
for tickets ($10-$25), visit OSA