Family Man

Peter Pryor wants your feedback on his playwriting debut.

by David Anthony Fox

A BEAUTIFUL MIND: Peter Pryor brings his personal life to the stage in his one-act play, which documents his son's struggle with autism. (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

As an actor, Peter Pryor goes from strength to strength, as anyone who saw his recent, triumphant Iago will attest. Now he's moving into playwriting — his first excursion — with Beautiful Boy, a one-man play (starring Pryor himself, naturally) that deals with an intensely personal subject: his 7-year-old son Colin's struggle with autism. The show debuts as part of 1812 Productions' Development series.

City Paper: What can you tell us about Beautiful Boy?

Peter Pryor: That what you'll see on Tuesday isn't what you'll see on Wednesday. This is a workshop that's really a workshop, and what we hear from audience talkbacks will really shape the piece. For example, one big challenge now is I'm trying to find a way to have the audience visualize autism — some theatrical metaphor. We haven't quite got it yet. Maybe we will tomorrow. ... Also, it's multimedia, so I'm working to integrate those elements, too.

CP: It's a pretty public way to try out your first work as a writer.

PP: I'm so grateful to 1812. Two years ago, Jen [Jennifer Childs, 1812's artistic director, and Pryor's longtime friend and colleague] asked me to do something, and this is what I thought of. Now I finally have a chance to work on it. Also, Matt Pfeiffer [the director] and P. Seth Bauer [dramaturge] have given so much to make this come together. I'm learning more about this process every day.

CP: It's a very personal choice for you, obviously.

PP: Sure. And some of it is hard to share. But I want people to know about the program we're using — it's called Son-Rise — and the success we're having. Of course, there are many different programs, and different ones work for different people. This is what is working for us. Anyway, the community of people that comes to our house and works with us — Team Colin, we call it, headed by Juliette [Pete's wife and Colin's mom]. They're amazing.

CP: You have another child, don't you? How has that changed life at your house?

PP: Our son, Shane. It's great. It's challenging, of course. Colin isn't always able to pay attention to Shane the way Shane wants — and naturally, that makes Shane love Colin even more. Ultimately, it's brought out great qualities in both of them.

CP: You're known as a comic — is this a funny play?

PP: It's gotta be — after all, it's me.

CP: Any final words for your audience?

PP: It's a work in progress — just like me.

(d_fox@citypaper.net)

Beautiful Boy, through May 25, $10, Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-592-9560, 1812productions.org.