Author Description

"Oscar, the Flying Boy" is an original music composed by Dr. Gary Funk with lyrics by Brian William Taylor. Oscar, a nonverbal, autistic child shares what it is like to be autistic and how it felt to be drawn by some force away from his parents – away from reality. He wonders why he cannot talk. It is a story of Oscar's struggles and triumphs and those of his parents. Upon learning of the diagnosis of autism, Oscar's parents blame traditional medicine and toxicity for his disease. They go through periods of anxiety, frustration, anger and guilt but determine that they must do everything possible to bring Oscar back to them. They try all sorts of remedies including non-traditional medicine but Oscar's symptoms only worsen. The mute Oscar desperately wishes to assure his parents that he is safe in his nest on the other side of a transparent wall that separates him from his parents and through which he can see and hear everything. Although they cannot hear his pleading, Oscar begs them not to talk down to him because he is, in fact, intelligent. He just can't speak. He waits for some miracle to voice his voice, to unfetter his tongue. His parents want to meet their son for the first time. And...that is what drives the musical to its triumphant climax