By Matthew Wexler
Ryan J. Haddad is vers. Depending on what company you keep, that might have different meanings. (The gays know.) Not your cup of tea? Fear not. Haddad’s versatility spans beyond the bedroom. The disabled actor-writer returns to the stage with his latest solo show, Hold Me in the Water, and while its impact is more of a ripple than a wave, Haddad proves, once again, that he knows how to tell a story.
Haddad has never been afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, from his first solo show, Hi, Are You Single?, to the sold-out Off-Broadway run of Dark Disabled Stories, he often vacillates between self-empowerment and insecurity while navigating relationships and a world filled with obstacles, both literal and ephemeral.
The genesis for Hold Me in the Water first took shape when Haddad appeared as a guest artist in a solo performance class at Fordham University. At that point, he was mid-relationship, exploring the complexities of love: making love, saying love, recognizing—or perhaps misidentifying—love. The work evolved (as did the relationship) with the guidance of director Danny Sharron and access dramaturg Alison Kopit, who assisted in development through a lens of integrated access. This includes open captioning, audio description, and relaxed performance conventions, such as dimmed house lights and a dedicated lobby space for audience members who may need to step out during the performance.
The always charismatic Haddad opts for a subtler, softer approach than previous works. But about halfway through the show’s 70-minute running time, his meticulous understanding and unpacking of both visual cues and language (“love” versus “making love”) begin to sound like an extended Moth storytelling event. A simple scenic design forces him toward the rear of the stage, when what we crave is to be up close and personal. Still, Haddad can hold our attention, but like water, his latest work occasionally slips through our hands.
Hold Me in the Water runs through May 4 at Playwrights Horizons.
1MC Takeaway
Ryan J. Haddad references Mia Mingus’s essay, “Access Intimacy,” which the disabled writer and educator describes as “that elusive, hard to describe feeling when someone else ‘gets’ your access needs.” But what about the current administration’s policy changes, which could adversely impact over 70 million Americans with disabilities?
Want to hear more about Haddad’s creative process? Watch his interview with Playwrights Horizons literary director Lizzie Stern.
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