The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

The Misfit Analysis at the Vault Festival

The Misfit Analysis at the Vault Festival | Theatre review
5 March 2016
Catherine Sedgwick
Catherine Sedgwick
Avatar
Catherine Sedgwick
5 March 2016

Movie and show review

Links

FacebookWebsite

The Misfit Analysis is a poignant look into the mind of an autistic man, Cian Binchy. Interactive and cutting-edge, the play combines the use of performance, props, video and audience engagement. Cian’s relationship with the viewers is lively, as he summons people to the stage to wear smiley faces, spin toys, and answer questions about autism.

The piece focuses on Cian’s experience of living with autism. While it does not touch on truly high-functioning autism, the actor does have this variety of the condition. With humour and wit, he portrays the realities of living with a disability in this society and coping with institutional prejudices. In The Misfit Analysis, he expresses bitterness about his attempts to lead a normal life, get a job, and meet women, all the while encountering patronising attitudes and rejection. People advise him to tend a garden – he hates gardening. He applies for drama school and is immediately turned away. He tries to socialise with a blow-up doll, but even she rejects him.

Portraying the many aspects of autism, Cian alternates between states, sometimes engaging with the world, sometimes sitting motionless, sometimes lost in a psychological fog, pleading for help. Those who hear his requests for assistance refuse him, stating that they only help wheelchair users or visually impaired people. This highlights his sensation of being neither normal nor disabled, but in between, unacknowledged and lacking in resources.

It is notable that the play does not distinguish between high-functioning autism (Asperger’s Syndrome) and more severe manifestations. Those with Asperger’s are often less likely to “stim”, talk to blow-up dolls, or retreat into mental isolation. That said, a variety of tendencies, from mild to extreme, can be found on the wide spectrum measuring this condition. Famous people living with autism are briefly touched upon in the piece, but the achievements and genius of many others remain otherwise unexamined, perhaps to exhibit that autism is still not well understood.

The Misfit Analysis is successful as a study of disability. With humour and frustration, Cian’s attempts to interpret his role as an autistic man in the world, lamenting his feeling of being a misfit and an outsider. Then finally an epiphany: his journey of the mind evolves to a conclusion. Society is made up entirely of misfits and outsiders. As if transformed, Cian meets the world with a positive energy, following his acceptance into drama school. What a brilliant, optimistic finale!

★★★★★

Catherine Sedgwick

The Misfit Analysis is on at the Vault Festival from 2nd until 6th March 2016, for further information or to book visit here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

A Livestream with David Bedella at Crazy Coqs Online

★★★★★
Regan Harle
Read More

Undercover at Morpheus Show Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Playing ON: An interview with Jim Pope on life-changing theatre

Georgia Howlett
Read More

Sunset Boulevard at Curve Theatre Online

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Hip Hop Cinderella

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Theatre in 2020: a recap (and an outlook for 2021)

Michael Higgs
Read More

A new world of theatre: Aimie Atkinson on groundbreaking theatre platform Thespie

Ezelle Alblas
Read More

Dick Whittington at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Samuel Nicholls
Read More

Living Newspaper: A Counter Narrative – Edition Two at the Royal Court Theatre

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Links

FacebookWebsite

Theatre review

Catherine Sedgwick

The Misfit Analysis at the Vault Festival

★★★★★

Dates

2nd March - 6th March 2016

Price

£10

Links & directions

FacebookWebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Outside the Wire
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • A Livestream with David Bedella at Crazy Coqs Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Blithe Spirit
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Pearl Charles – Magic Mirror
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Away
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Are We Lost Forever
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Imperial Blue
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • You Me at Six – Suckapunch
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ten short literary collections to get you back into reading
    Literature
  • Mayor
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Sommelier Kelvin McCabe on where to buy good wine to celebrate (and enjoy) 2021
    Food & Drinks
  • Perfect Christmas recipe: Hide Christmas Tree by Ollie Dabbous
    Food & Drinks
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Stiff Little Fingers at the Forum | Live review
Kung Fu Panda 3 | Movie review