Beautiful Autistic at Chicago Dramatists

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Director Rachel Edwards Harvith helps negotiate the shifts in tone from buddy-movie comedy to tender flashbacks with Susan and Jimmy. Harazin commits beautifully to the difficulties inherent in playing a character who wants to connect with others but literally has no idea how to go about it. Woldman does an excellent job tying together past moments in Jimmy's life with how they've affected him in the present. The reveals are smart without feeling too studied."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...For the bulk of two discursive acts, Jimmy does little but demonstrate typical manifestations of autism-in present and flashback scenes-while others struggle to understand and tolerate him. Most everything is dramatically inconsequential until late in the play, when the pileup of crises turns things melodramatic. Several stirring performances can't provide the missing drama."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...In Scott Woldman’s “Beautiful Autistic”, now having its World Premiere on the stage of Chicago Dramatists, we meet Jimmy (superbly brought to life by Nicholas Harazin) ,a young man who wants to live among “normal” people ,despite his autism. The story is set in the 1990’s, what one might call a transition period in the mindsets of the populace. “Rainman” and the wonderful portrayal by Dustin Hoffman brought more awareness to this health related issue and took away some of the fears that many had. Very often, without first hand knowledge or experience with people suffering from autism, people shy away or repel the efforts of these people who only want to fit in."