Should the blind and deaf play the blind and deaf?

The_Minister

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-abigail-breslin-helen-keller.html

Seems that they are staging a revival of the broadway version of Helen Keller, and activists are annoyed that they cast someone who has no disabilities.

"We do not think it's OK for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community." Jensen recognizes the difficulty Broadway plays are having attracting audiences right now, but says "I understand how difficult it is to capitalize a new production on Broadway, but that to me is not the issue. There are other, larger human and artistic issues at stake here."

On the one hand, I see the viciousness of staging a play celebrating the life of a woman who overcame being deaf and blind, without casting a single disabled person. There are talented deaf actors such as Marlee Matlin, however most of these would not be able to pronounce the words clearly enough to sing them understandably.
On the other hand, it's important that the play is a success and that people come and see it - having a name with recognition helps, and there aren't many famous deaf singers.

What do you all think?

liah

What cruel individual thought it would be a good idea to base a musical on the life of Helen Keller?

Just.. what?!

ArmaniJeanss

Tough one. I think its something that attitudes tend to change about over the years.
Like there was a time when no-one batted an eyelid at Laurence Olivier or John Mills 'blacking up' to play Othello, whereas nowadays they only cast a black actor in that role.

I see nothing wrong with having an able-bodied actor in those roles, but can kinda see where the protests are coming from.

TheZohanS

The_Minister wrote: »

What do you all think?

Love your posts man...feeling the love you have for the AH mods....:(

drunkmonkey

The_Minister wrote: »

On the one hand, I see

Are you taking the piss?

Saibh

the production was unable to find a blind or deaf child actor with the star power to bring in enough of an audience to justify the show's large budget

The show will, however, be making an effort to find a blind or deaf actress to play Breslin's understudy -- but they won't make any promises.

It would be a good opportunity for anyone who is blind or deaf to take part in this show but would guess a large part of it would come down to the financial end of things.

They just didn't find the right act for this particular show at this time.

andrew

Whoever's cast in a role should be whoever is best able to play the role as described in the script. Sure A deaf and blind person could play themselves, but I don't see how they'd be able to play someone else as well as a non-disabled person could. So I really don't comprehend the objection that there isn't a disabled person in the cast.

mink_man

its like brendan out of home and away, he's so funnt to watch but you know hes not simple or anythin in real like cos he has big arms! :rolleyes:

Jesus Wept

It's acting, they should STFU.

I wonder do the producers of Fair City share their hiring policy.

The_Minister wrote: »

there aren't many famous deaf singers.

There are some famous tone deaf singers.

laoisforliam

mos deaf

The_Minister

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Tough one. I think its something that attitudes tend to change about over the years.
Like there was a time when no-one batted an eyelid at Laurence Olivier or John Mills 'blacking up' to play Othello, whereas nowadays they only cast a black actor in that role.

I see nothing wrong with having an able-bodied actor in those roles, but can kinda see where the protests are coming from.

Another issue now is straight men camping it up, apparently.

sceptre

liah wrote: »

What cruel individual thought it would be a good idea to base a musical on the life of Helen Keller?

Just.. what?!

It's not a musical. You've been watching too much South Park (or at least relying on it for current affairs or something).

Though having said that, it isn't a very good play either.

However, there is a musical version of Little House on the Prairie and one of the characters in that goes blind if that helps.


Dealing with the actual thrust of the thread, I went to see the RSC do King Lear in 1993 and when Edmund introduced himself as a "bastard" it didn't surprise any of us as the Earl of Gloucester (his daddy) was being played by a white guy and Edmund by a black guy. Saying "duh" hadn't arrived yet but if it had, we would have. Ditto when a friend of mine went to see a stage production of Arsenic & Old Lace where the same colour difference was evident when Mortimer realises he's not related to his aunts even though it was obvious to the audience for two hours before. Broadly speaking, so what.

The_Minister

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Are you taking the piss?

<_<
>_>

dan719

liah wrote: »

What cruel individual thought it would be a good idea to base a musical on the life of Helen Keller?

Just.. what?!

A legend amongst men, that is whom. I salute you, cruel b*stard, I salute you.

FearDark

Whats worse is normal folk playing retards in Home and Away and Hollyoaks.

Duuuurrrrrrph!!!!!!!!!!

Blisterman

That deaf dumb and blind kid, sure plays a mean pinball.

marco_polo

FearDark wrote: »

Whats worse is normal folk playing retards in Home and Away and Hollyoaks.

Duuuurrrrrrph!!!!!!!!!!

Your concern about any potential hurt to disabled peoples feelings that may be caused by such casting decisions is truely touching.