[accessibleimage] audio Shakespeare

The Boston Globe
Sunday, August 06, 2006

To see or not to see: Bard's plays adapted for blind, deaf

By ALEXANDRA BOWERS

In the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's current production of ``The Taming of the Shrew," the actors present a snazzy performance, set in Boston's North End in the 1950s. It's a romp through a classic battle of the sexes. But how do you see Katherina's petulant expressions if you are blind, or hear the tenderness of her suitor Petruchio's voice if you are deaf?

This week the play moves beyond just the action on the stage in a performance for blind and deaf patrons on Thursday, presented by the Shakespeare Company and the Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

In an audio service offered for blind patrons, interpreters will weave in descriptions of the stage, scenery changes and actors' movements during pauses in the dialogue, to give more form to the fabric of the play. Patrons are given headsets and seats are reserved that are in range of the broadcast booth.

``There is a description of the stage and costumes and how the actors respond to each other," said Eryn Johnson, acting director of education at the Wang Center. For deaf or hard of hearing audience members, an open caption service will display the text on large screens.

For the hearing impaired, a performance tonight at 7 will be American Sign Language-interpreted, as part of ``Celebrate Shakespeare," an evening of free workshops, readings, and activities.

``The Taming of the Shrew" will be performed at the Parade Grounds on the Boston Common. Call the Wang Center at 617-482-9393 or TTY 617-482-5757, or visit

www.freeshakespeare.org


http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/06/to_see_or_not_to_see_bards_plays_adapted_for_blind_deaf/



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