A parent (of twins no less) navigating her way through her child’s Autism Spectrum Disorder — aka her ride on The ‘A’ Train — sounds more like a barrel of tears than a barrel of laughs, but thanks to Anne Torsiglieri, the writer and star of this (almost) one-woman tour de force, the show offers laughter, tears, and a whole lot of insight into what it means to live in this particular story.
Based on her own true story, I said it’s “almost” a one-woman show, because it’s also “almost” a musical, with original music written and performed by Torsiglieri and her collaborator Brad Carroll, who accompanies her on stage in the show, which is currently having its West Coast premiere run at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura (through April 28).
Both heartbreaking and funny, with more than a few well-placed expletives, Torsiglieri — a Broadway veteran and UC Santa Barbara Department of Theater/Dance Professor and Director of the BFA Actor Training Program — shines in a role she was literally born to play. It’s a no holds barred look at the joys of everyday victories of parenthood — large and small — set against the landscape of constant frustrations of having to deal with a bureaucratic medical system and an often even more-baffling public school system in order to get her son the things he needs.
My only criticisms about the show are minor. The staging is static, and a clever framing device using various train stops as descriptors (i.e. “Next Stop, Shit Hits the Fan Station” and “Next Stop, Catastrophe or Celebration Station,” etc.) could easily have been graphically incorporated, as well as verbalized to add a little more liveliness to the set. I also would have liked to have had just a bit more explanation of the initial story before her character becomes a parent. Torsiglieri herself was a Broadway actress; was the woman she plays also on Broadway before she was a mom? She sings like she was, and she dances like she was, but it’s never really explained what her life was like before she gets on The ‘A’ Train. I think a little more exposition would have given the story a lot more grounding.
But minor quibbles aside, The ‘A’ Train — somewhat miraculously — manages to tackle a very difficult subject with grace and humor. It’s informative, inspiring, and funny, without an ounce of sanctimoniousness or preachiness. Multiple points of view about the complicated variations of Autism and the myriad opinions about services, treatment, and even vocabulary are incorporated into the show, which doesn’t tell you what to think exactly, just paints a picture for you.
It’s quite a difficult tightrope to walk, but Torsiglieri and The ‘A’ Train pull it off with aplomb.
The ‘A’ Train is playing at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura through April 28. See rubicontheatre.org for tickets and additional information.
Premier Events
Fri, May 10
6:00 PM
Goleta
Beau James Wilding Band at M Special Goleta
Sat, May 11
1:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Camps, Classes, and Cones! Summer Program Fair
Sun, May 12
3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Visionaries Then & Now Concert
Thu, May 09
11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Friendship Center’s Mother’s Day Celebration
Thu, May 09
5:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Waldorf School Fundraising Presents: Live Music
Thu, May 09
7:00 PM
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School Presents: “Anything Goes”
Thu, May 09
7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10
10:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Covenant Living at the Samarkand Spring Art Show
Fri, May 10
12:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Mother’s Day Weekend at Art & Soul
Fri, May 10
6:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Crepe Paper Flowers Workshop
Fri, May 10
7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10
7:30 PM
Santa Barbara
Nic & Joe Play Roy
Sat, May 11
11:00 AM
Solvang
Moms 4 Mutts! Humane Society Fundraiser
Fri, May 10 6:00 PM
Goleta
Beau James Wilding Band at M Special Goleta
Sat, May 11 1:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Camps, Classes, and Cones! Summer Program Fair
Sun, May 12 3:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Visionaries Then & Now Concert
Thu, May 09 11:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Friendship Center’s Mother’s Day Celebration
Thu, May 09 5:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Waldorf School Fundraising Presents: Live Music
Thu, May 09 7:00 PM
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School Presents: “Anything Goes”
Thu, May 09 7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10 10:00 AM
Santa Barbara
Covenant Living at the Samarkand Spring Art Show
Fri, May 10 12:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Mother’s Day Weekend at Art & Soul
Fri, May 10 6:00 PM
Santa Barbara
Crepe Paper Flowers Workshop
Fri, May 10 7:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA
San Marcos High School Theater Presents, “Singin’ in the Rain”
Fri, May 10 7:30 PM
Santa Barbara
Nic & Joe Play Roy
Sat, May 11 11:00 AM
Solvang