Noah Britton from Asperger’s Are Us, an American comedy troupe whose members are all on the autism spectrum, speaks with Luke Owain Boult about their upcoming tour and life after the Duplass Brothers documentary.
“We formed on the North shore of Massachusetts, USA in the summer of 2010 after New Michael Ingemi, Jack Hanke, and Ethan Finlan graduated from an acting/comedy summer camp where I was their counsellor,” starts Noah when asked about the group’s origins. “We joke to each other constantly, in the associational way that autistics do, and sometimes these jokes are good enough to say ‘hey let’s make that a sketch!’, but sometimes New Michael and I write by ourselves, and will sit there and try to figure out the worst possible surprise for a child, or the most wholesome reason to register as a sex offender.”
Noah, like the rest of the troupe, is astoundingly funny, highlighting the importance of comedy in helping some on the autism spectrum to form bonds with others when the condition can make it difficult. Noah defines the group’s mix of heavy satire and surrealism as “Dark absurdist deadpan with a bit of wordplay thrown in”, creating almost Python-esque results, although when I asked about their source of inspiration he replied, “Bibendum the Michelin Man”. He continues “There’s a little improvisation, when we do crowd-work, or forget a line, but we’ve always felt that improv, like jamming in a band, should still be known as ‘practice’ rather than ‘performance’.”
Last year saw the release of the warmly-received Asperger’s Are Us documentary, which followed the troupe as they bonded and got ready for a big show. “We now drive around in individual helicopters rather than sharing one larger one,” Noah jokes. “Seriously, it’s why we got to tour Europe! Thanks a lot to all the people who saw the movie and asked us to come here!”
Have they been surprised by the reception they’ve received? “Oh yes! When our first interview came out in March 2011 we had no idea how popular we’d become. It wasn’t until many years later that we realised it was for the wrong reasons, and we’ve spent a long time since trying to clarify that we’re just a particular Aspie style of comedy, rather than some kind of charity or amateur comedians people see out of guilt.”
How would Noah like society at large to view autism? “First, we’d want the autism spectrum to be defined more clearly. When the DSM V came out and eliminated Asperger’s, it was a step in the wrong direction, because they gave up trying to differentiate us. The light spectrum contains red and orange (among others), and these are distinct variations that most people can recognize, but at a certain point they become indistinguishable and called red-orange. So it is with Asperger Syndrome and other forms of autism. Just because Asperger’s is sometimes not a hard cutoff doesn’t mean it NEVER is. We think Asperger’s is a cultural and psychological difference like being an INTJ on the Myers-Briggs scale is. INTJs can be too quick to judge or make decisions without considering alternatives first, but that doesn’t mean they have a disability, despite the problems that personality trait causes. That said, a whole lot of people with autism need a whole lot of help, and all of us need concrete explanations when we misunderstand neurotypical social norms, prepare time for changes, and a means of insulating ourselves from overwhelming sensory input.”
To end, I ask what plans they have after their tour, and their message to those coming to see them in Wales. “Passing away. Then a U.S. tour for a month and some more video projects. Bring money! Come buy our shirts!”
Asperger’s Are Us, Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Thurs 6 July. Tickets: £10. Info: 029 2023 2199 / www.clwb.net; Gwyn Hall, Neath, Fri 7 July. Tickets: £10.75. Info: 030 0365 6677 / www.gwynhall.celticleisure.org