'This Is The Point' - An Unflinching Portrayal Of What It Means To Be Disabled In Today's Society

By Emma Kacur

This play isn’t a regular play - we don’t open to a scene, a gimmick, an exchange. We are not greeted by fictional characters. Instead, up on stage are three actors, talking about their lives characters. Instead, up on stage are three actors, talking about their very real lives and presenting these to the audience with a distinct sense of drama, comedy, passion and the urgency of getting their message across: that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with respect.

Taking place at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, this show runs about an hour and a half. It talks about the lives of Dan Watson and his wife Christina and the journey they go on with their disabled son Bruno, as well of the lives of Tony, a non-verbal adult in a wheelchair and his partner Liz. Tony communicates through a brilliant system, where he has a slate before him with the alphabet written out; he then taps each letter with a device fastened to his head, communicating quickly and effectively.

While the story of Dan and Christina’s son sheds light on the prejudices, judgement and just truly nastiness disabled people and their loved ones face, Tony and Liz’s story is what truly shocked the audience. It addresses various taboo topics, such as sex, rape and bdsm. As Liz says in the play ‘People like to believe that we (disabled people) are all innocent and that we don’t enjoy fun things, like sex [. . .] But that’s not true!’ This message is extremely important to get across - most people, including those a bit different than the status quo need friendship, love and sex as well as other meaningful relationships, such as that that Tony discusses he had with his daughter when she was young.

In addition to the general sex-positive vibe of this play, it also discusses rape, and how those with a disability may be more vulnerable too it. This is shown when Tony is drugged and had sex with on stage without consent, by a girl named sunflower in his bedroom (let’s remember rape isn’t just a man luring for young girls in the bushes).

This rape is actually shown on stage, and although there is no nudity, a warning about the explicitness of this play and scene in particular is certainly in order here.

Actors performed with an amazing sense of fluency and expression, making an excellent use of their ways of communication and expression as they walked and drove alike across the stage. The fact that the actors were also the writers of the show, made for a particularly engaging and energetic performance.

Overall the play actually communicated a positive message: that we are all equal despite our differences and that each and every one of us has an important narrative and story to tell. And of course, that as a society, we aren’t there yet - however, a play like this brings us another step closer.