Theatre and Asperger's

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I love the theatre and often go to see plays, ballet, opera and comedy. I find it far easier to follow and understand what's happening than when I watch TV or films/movies. I think this is because of the heightened physical movements and facial expressions - it's so much more obvious to me...this even includes ballet and dance.

Does anyone else else feel the same about theatre?

I have just as much trouble following plays as I do movies, so I usually don't enjoy them. Ironically, I love acting in plays. I've been in 18 shows over my life, with large roles in most of them.

I don't like the theatre or cinema. I hate sitting quietly for that long and if I miss something as they're speaking then I can't rewind it like I can on the telly.

I would say I am exactly the opposite. I don’t enjoy the theatre at all. Recently I went on a trip with my wife and attended 3 different musicals. I nodded off during two of them.

While watching the musicals, it occurred to me that I have a difficult time following what is happening. Multiple times, people around me started spontaneously laughing in response to something an actor/actress said or sang. I had no idea what was so funny.

I have attended the Nutcracker Suite several times (with my kids). This is much simpler to follow (as there are no words, only music with movement). Of course, I need to read the program (essentially the Cliff’s Notes) to understand what is happening. I think I only enjoy the Nutcracker Suite, because I like listening to Tchaikovsky.

Overall, if I had to choose between Theatre and Museums, I would much prefer to spend time in Museums.

Do any of you guys get told you're a good actor? In my ASD group and a mental hospital I went to I was told I was a good actor and I should consider a career in it.

I don't see myself as great as they say I am. With being an actor I get all eyes on me and hearing crowd reactions I'd feel overstimulated if I played the role of a bad guy or hated character. I'm also scared that if I mess up I'd have a massive meltdown/shutdown.

Yes, I've been told that a lot, but while I'm not trying to boast, I believe I am a very good actor. Having a conversation with someone will make me nervous as hell, but I love being onstage in front of people. I think the big difference is that in plays, I have set lines and know what I'm going to say, which definitely isn't the case in conversations. It's all improvising, which has always been my weak point in acting.

In a play I was in as a senior in high school, Atypical Boy, I played the main villain, and I loved it. Once I was able to get in character, I truly felt like the bad guy and hated the protagonist!

As for messing up...when I was a junior, I had a large role in Is He Dead? I had brain surgery last year to get rid of seizures; unfortunately, that surgery hadn't occurred yet. My character went over to confront someone in a scene that was quite important, but I had a simple partial seizure and was unable to talk. I could only let out some garbled sounds and the other person had to make lines up on the spot. It was obvious to everyone in the audience that I messed up, but most of them didn't realize I had a seizure. I cried in the dressing room after the show was over. I don't like to think about that day...November 9, 2012.

Agreed, i do ballet and like to watch allot of plays! I really would like to try Private theater lessons so I can practice with someone to help me immediately with my mistake. pretty cool though!