Speaking Out

Interesting piece in The New York Times about deaf advocates protesting a play where a non-deaf actor is playing a deaf role. It's Rebecca Gilman's adaptation of The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, which prominently features a deaf character. In fact, John Singer, the deaf man, is one of the most notable deaf characters in all literature. (Have I broken the record for using "deaf" the most times in one paragraph?)

Gilman decided to give the character some speeches. The production auditioned some deaf people before going in the direction they've chosen. Life is obviously tough for deaf actors, but productions should do what they consider artistically correct, not politically correct.

A movie version of the novel starring Alan Arkin as Singer came out in 1968. He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. I wonder if this new adaptation is turned into a movie what direction they'll go?