Comments on: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community

By: nylady

nylady — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:57:31 +0000

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.

By: ladybug

ladybug — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:49:15 +0000

i agreed with Joe K.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:34:41 +0000

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.

By: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community (ScreenCrave) | Trendsfire - todays hot trends

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:18:32 +0000

[...] more here: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community (ScreenCrave) Share and [...]

By: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community (ScreenCrave) | Tech Stories and News | All-time Aggregator Thufs

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:54:26 +0000

[...] here: Abigail Breslin’s Latest Role Upsets the Blind and Deaf Community (ScreenCrave) Posted in Yahoo News | Tags: face, ugly « Last minute costume? (The [...]

By: David Harrell

David Harrell — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:37:35 +0000

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

By: Francine

Francine — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:45:37 +0000

"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?

By: Francine

Francine — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:39:25 +0000

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.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:25:01 +0000

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?

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:13:29 +0000

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.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:00:25 +0000

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.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:38:11 +0000

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.