Over the course of the eight scenes that make up Rebecca Maher’s “Pancakes and a Lobster Tank; Living with Autism, Loving Alex”,  the audience gets an almost voyeuristic view of the humorous, yet emotionally raw, details of going out to restaurants, rides to school, trips to Wal-Mart, and dealing with the education system.  All rather mundane events, when you live “outside the bubble of Autism.”  However, when the family is cast into this foreign world by their youngest son / brother (Alex) it can often be “a lot like a roller coaster ride complete with screaming, panic induced laughter and someone may ultimately vomit.”

As both the author and performer of this original one-woman show, Rebecca Maher takes the audience through her journey with humor, optimism, and uncensored honesty.  Rebecca strips back polite reality to unveil a heart-wrenching account of a mother’s experiences raising a child with Autism utilizing her innate comedic sensibilities.  She weaves a uniquely personal patch of experience that frays into the common threads of a fabric that includes at least 1 in every 110 mothers.  “Pancakes” is sometimes tragic, always emotionally stirring, and ultimately a triumph of the human spirit and condition.  The spectrum of emotions must be experienced, whether or not touched by this condition, to be appreciated.

In addition to Rebecca’s performance, the show also features multimedia segments that enhance the audience’s ability to empathize with the twists and turns of this emotional rollercoaster.  Rebecca’s illustrations, and personal videos, are matched with an aural soundscape provided by Punchline.

In April of 2010, “Pancakes and a Lobster Tank; Living with Autism, Loving Alex” was world premiered under the direction of Dr. Daniel Nadon.  Since then, audiences have overwhelmed Rebecca and all involved with their unbridled enthusiasm and appreciation.  Don’t take my word for it, review reactions and press coverage for yourself (Word On The Street).  The work has been performed across Ohio with the ultimate goal of reaching a larger audience.