Hearing actor in deaf role prompts protests
October 14th, 2009
From the New York Times:
When playwright Rebecca Gilman adapted “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” for the stage, she changed a key element of the Carson McCullers novel, giving speeches to a character who is deaf and mute throughout the book. The change makes it difficult for a deaf actor to play the role.
Now that the play is being produced in New York, deaf actors and deaf theater groups are protesting the artistic and casting choices behind the character of John Singer. A coalition of groups has asked that Henry Stram, the hearing actor who is playing the part, be replaced by a deaf actor.
“A hearing actor playing a deaf character is tantamount to putting a white actor in blackface,” said Linda Bove, a deaf actress and board member of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, an advocacy group for minority, disabled and deaf artists.
Director Doug Hughes said he would not fire Stram but was sympathetic to the deaf actors’ concerns. He offered to work with them on a future project.
(Photo from the New York Times)
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November 10th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
“Roles or characters created for actors with disabilities to play are sadly very rare. It is an outrage that the director of the play did not even consider casting a deaf actor in that role instead changing the role for a hearing actor.”
Please. Don’t you even read? Ms. Gilman, the playwright, did NOT create the role for a hearing impaired actor and it’s tantamount to censorship to demand that she rewrite the part to suit your idiotic politically correct agenda.
“Deaf actors should play deaf roles. Anything else is a travesty.”
And, by your inane logic, because there was no such thing as a black prince in Denmark in the 16th century, an African American cast as Hamlet would be a travesty as well.
You people are too much.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
it is outrageous that artists are being told how to cast their work. Henry Stram is a theatre artist of the highest caliber. it is outrageous to ask him to step aside.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
It is very disappointing that there is still so much ignorance in the entertainment industry about people with disabilities and actors with disabilities. I think the response from the play’s director is very patronizing stating that he will “get back to you” about other roles in other plays. Roles or characters created for actors with disabilities to play are sadly very rare. It is an outrage that the director of the play did not even consider casting a deaf actor in that role instead changing the role for a hearing actor. What a missed opportunity, not just for disabled actor but to the play’s audience who could have come to see the deaf in a profound way.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Deaf actors should play deaf roles. Anything else is a travesty.