Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community
By Laura Aguirre
Abigail Breslin has landed a role in the Broadway play The Miracle Worker. Breslin will take the role of blind and deaf hero Helen Keller, and some people are pissed! There are those who feel that the role of Keller should have gone to someone from the deaf and blind community and not the 13-year-old Oscar nominated actress.
According to the New York Times, groups who represent blind and deaf actors have stated…
“We do not think it’s OK for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from out community. 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,” said Sharon Jensen, executive director of the Alliance for the Inclusion in the Arts.
However lead producer David Richenthal said in an interview that he wanted a star (and who better than Breslin) because it’s the only way to make money and that excludes any actress who are deaf or blind.
“It’s simply naive to think that in this day and age, you’ll be able to sell tickets to a play revival solely on the potential of the production to be a great show or on the potential for an unknown actress to give a breakthrough performance. I would consider it financially irresponsible to approach a major revival without making a serious effort to get a star,” said Richenthal.
Seems to make sense sadly. It all comes down to time and money. Chances are that working with Breslin, a seasoned performer, will be easier than a new-comer and she’ll sell more tickets at the same time. Isn’t it a shame all us viewers are so vain?
The Miracle Worker debuted in 1959 with actress Patty Duke as Helen Keller, and went on to the big screen and television, in which the lead was played Duke, Melissa Gilbert, and Mare Winningham — and let me point out that none of those actresses were deaf nor blind.
Who do you think is right to play the Helen Keller role? Breslin or a deaf and/or blind actress?
Saturday, October 31, 2009 7:51AM
but…thats what acting is, getting into an element you don't know becoming part of it. people are so over fucking sensitive. so for cast away should we have gotten and actual cast away…how about every war movie we use real war vets….morons.
Sunday, November 1, 2009 3:19AM
It is purely economics and it's too bad that people within certain communities like the blind and deaf (who through no fault of their own have found themselves there), but let's face reality. The people complaining–They are never going to see nor hear this production. That's called reality.
They won't be buying the tickets for the show, so they need to stop with the overly sensitive politcal correctness crap, because what the producer is saying is absolutely true.
Do any of us even know of a blind and deaf actor or actress for that matter?
I'm betting even in today's society, these people are not all as advanced as Helen Keller was, and I'm not trying to be mean. My life is in public service in medicine for 20 years…
Let's be real people, and not expect stuff like this to even be financed without star power. Money cannot be made and this is the point of the business, not to be warm and fuzzy for everyone offended, and I'm betting a lot of disabled people might agree.
How many tickets to any Broadway show have been sold over the years to people who cannot hear it, nor can they see it? That's reality folks, cold and insensitive or not.
And Breslin didn't make the decision. She's not the boss here. Quit blaming some talented young kid for her gift. This will make more people aware and sensitive, not the opposite.
Monday, November 2, 2009 12:46PM
How is a deaf actress supposed to hear her cues for the next "line?" HOw is a blind actress supposed to know where teh set pieces are without stumbling over them?
Just asking….
By the way, is Patty Duke supposed to give back her Oscar?
Monday, November 2, 2009 12:51PM
I agree with the other people who have commented. Why was it ok for Patty Duke and Melissa Gilbert to play this role all those years ago?? I'm all for making sure people are treated well, but when we start this nonsence of things like this…. it's just people who want to cause problems. Let the actress do her job. ACT!
Monday, November 2, 2009 9:12AM
I think Abigail should be allowed to play the role and not be attacked cause she’s not really deaf nor blind. Did Patty Duke and the other women who played Helan Keller get treated the same way when they got the role? I never heard of any,but why now? I agree how can someone who’s blind or deaf get their cue’s if they can’t really see or hear them,plus its just a story on stage come on, people need to think straight before they speak their protests over some choice for a role in a play,movie or tv role.
Monday, November 2, 2009 4:38PM
Maybe Ms. Jensen should put up some of her money to help finance the project. The when she has something invested she can tell the producers whom to hire.
Monday, November 2, 2009 6:00PM
You are the epitome of ignorance and the reason the Deaf and Blind communities have to fight to be understood. I don't think Breslin should be criticized. She's an actress with an agent who got her a job and she accepted. But you are wrong when you say the deaf and blind do not attend performances. Interpreters for the Deaf are WIDELY used in entertainment venues, and to think that just because they can't hear or see that they would abstain completely is ludicrous. And, I just thought I'd mention that there are PLENTY of actors and actresses who would qualify as deaf, blind, AND talented enough to be cast in note-worthy roles. Here's some research for you that hopefully will be enlightening. MARLEE MATLIN: Oscar and Golden Globe winner for her leading role in "Children of a Lesser God", contestant on "Dancing with the Stars", seen on The L Word, The West Wing, just to name a few. DEANNE BRAY: currently on "Heroes" Oh and the real kicker? PHYLLIS FRELICH In 1980, she earned the Tony Award for Best Actress of 1980 with her performance in "Children of a Lesser God", a Broadway play.
Monday, November 2, 2009 6:13PM
Really? Seriously?! You people blow me away with your ignorance. It's like a virus that just spreads with every uneducated comment. How do you think Marlee Matlin was able to dance so beautifully on "Dancing with the Stars?" Because she heard the music? No. It was because she felt vibrations in the floor, she trusted and followed her partner and she spent hours and hours working to perfect the dances. You think a blind person is incapable of memorizing where a cue or marker is? How then do they get around their house or their neighborhood? They can't see where the chair is but they aren't covered in bruises constantly, are they? No. Because the deaf and blind may not be able to hear or see but they can still think! They learn and memorize and accomodate. And you know what the biggest accomodation they've had to make over the years is? People like you. They've had to adjust their lives around people like you that think they can't function because of the deafness or blindess. Shame on the lot of you.
Monday, November 2, 2009 10:25AM
This is so stupid. Why should a blind or deaf person play the part? It’s acting. That is on par with saying Amelia Earhardt should play hilary swank’s part in Amelia. Don’t these people have something better to worry about?
Monday, November 2, 2009 7:39PM
So, "public service in medicine" is code for drug dealer, right? Because I can't imagine anyone with even the slightest bit of education would make such a bigoted and moronic comment.
Blind & Deaf people don't go to the theater? Of course not. Because you'd NEVER see a sign language interpreter at a play……oh no, wait. That's right. They're at nearly EVERY GODDAMNED PRODUCTION. "How many tickets to any Broadway show have been sold over the years to people who cannot hear it, nor can they see it?" Oh, not many. Just everyone in the entire section of the theater next to the interpreter. You know, the seats that were cheaper than yours and have a better view? Yeah, those ones.
"These people are not all as advanced as Helen Keller was"? Seriously? You've obviously missed the entire point of her story. Helen Keller is important because she showed the world that being Deaf-blind doesn't make you incapable. The inability to see or hear is simply that. There's nothing wrong with a Deaf or blind person's mind, and to imply otherwise is bigoted and hateful.
I'm not sure why you felt the to comment on this article; clearly, your opinion must be very important for someone who knows nothing of the Deaf or Blind communties, and apparently has never been to the theater before. You might want to save you comments for a topic you actually know something about. Otherwise, you just might sound like an uneducated, insensitive douchebag.
Monday, November 2, 2009 7:45PM
"Who cares if Harriet Tubman is played by a white actress in blackface? It's not like there are any black actresses out there! And besides, we all know 'those people' don't go to the theater! You're all being hyper-sensitive worrywarts!"
Do you people even read your comments before you post them?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 9:37PM
The Alliance fully supports artistic freedom and has never protested the casting of Abigail Breslin in The Miracle Worker. We support the creative freedom that all artists bring to the casting process. However, it was our disappointment not with the selection, but the process in which the production selected Ms. Breslin, an actor of immense talent, that required that we speak. It would be our hope that the producers of work such as The Miracle Worker consider in their casting process actors from the communities we service, actors who could also bring significant breadth and depth to the role. That is our hope for the future of this project, this role, and other roles and projects in this same position — consider those in the community represented on-stage. And to be clear, it is not and never has been our position to call for the firing of any actor and we only wish Ms. Breslin the best in her Broadway debut.
The Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
Sunday, November 8, 2009 7:54PM
[...] here: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community (ScreenCrave) Posted in Yahoo News | Tags: face, ugly « Last minute costume? (The [...]
Monday, November 9, 2009 2:18AM
[...] more here: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community (ScreenCrave) Share and [...]
Thursday, December 3, 2009 8:34AM
Leonardo DiCaprio did a fantastic job in his role in 'What's eating Gilbert Grape?'
Was there an uproar around that? I don't think this is a discussion worth having.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 10:49AM
i agreed with Joe K.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 10:57AM
I disagree with abigail and how will she know to read braille? I think the best way that she can play other part than Helen Keller because blind and deaf can do the real act their part.