Blind Actors See The Theatrical Light
Every day people with handicaps amaze us as they stretch the boundaries of the imagination with their myriad accomplishments. In the field of dramatic presentation however, blind actors are not that common, and for Jean-Christophe Blondel, the French director of La Princesse Maleine, they represent a new and different approach and challenge.
“They are not as fast… They don’t think first about all that’s behind the text. We start from zero with each of them, but this clean slate offers us an opportunity; it makes them totally open to any experience,” says Blondel.
The director believes that due to the fact that the tragic-comedy is the story of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, the subject matter in its own way echoes the real life experiences of the cast members. Also, an unexpected surprise was noticed by the play’s choreographer, David Brandstaetter, who found the cast blessed with a powerful sense for both sound and music.
La Princesse Maleine is the creation of Belgian Nobel Prize-winner Maurice Maeterlinck. Originally written in 1889, the play concerns a princess
named Maleine, who falls in love with a prince from an enemy country.
The unlikely acting troupe got its start back in 2008 when several blind people were invited by a renowned Chinese director named Lin Zhaohua to perform in another play written by the same author called The Blind. It is a compelling story of survival focused on the lives of blind people trapped in an isolated forest who come to the conclusion that only they can save themselves.
Despite much controversy and resentment from many theater professionals, the actors persevered and the play proved to be a great success. The group became known as actors with real talent.
So much for that old expression about “the blind leading the blind.”
Perhaps more appropriate would be” “All’s well that ends well?”
Check out this video about the world’s only deaf/blind acting troupe from Israel.
(Link)
By MDeeDubroff on 03-06-2011
