Casting of Abigail Breslin as Helen Keller Angers Deaf, Blind Groups

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 29th 2009 12:25PM

It was announced Wednesday that 13-year-old Abigail Breslin will play Helen Keller in the Broadway revival of 'The Miracle Worker' this winter. But the news is being met with extreme opposition by blind and deaf advocacy groups, simply because of Breslin's ability to see and hear.

"We do not think it's O.K. for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community," said Sharon Jensen, executive director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, to the New York Times. "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."

The show's producer, David Richenthal, made it clear that he wanted a star to play Keller in order to ensure commercial success, and he was unable to find a blind or deaf child actor who fit the bill. Breslin's star power stems from her Academy Award nomination for her role as Olive in 'Little Miss Sunshine.'

"It's simply naïve 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," he said. "I would consider it financially irresponsible to approach a major revival without making a serious effort to get a star."

The producers do plan to audition blind and deaf actresses for Breslin's understudy, however, in a compromise that Richenthal says will still allow for high ticket sales. But he stressed that a seeing and hearing actress may be cast as understudy if they cannot find a "qualified" deaf or blind actress.

Helen Keller was a deaf and blind author and activist. 'The Miracle Worker' follows the relationship between Keller and Anne Sullivan -- the woman who taught her to communicate.

Tags: abigail breslin, AbigailBreslin

Comments

(111)

Friday 30 October

By shadowcatamount

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I guess nobody has seen her on NCIS portraying a blind child? This child is talented and will play this roll professionally.

By Nigel

I'm totally with the producer on this one. Special pleading and demands for adherence to petty political correctness ideas are out of control.

By Connie

I understand why they want to insure the plays success by having named ppl in it, but it would be interesting to see a real blind/and or deaf person tackle the role, personally it would have to prob be one or the other to handle the battle scenes with the teacher etc..but its useless for ppl to argue about it ..profit is the reason they are staging it

By Callum Stewart

Who cares? It's not like the people complaining are gonna see/hear the show anyway.

By Sarah

Why does it matter? She's an actress, and obviously a good one, or she wouldn't have been given the part It's called acting for a reason.

By Carole

It is a show on Broadway...
It is a role...
There is nothing wrong with it.
For gosh sakes...get a grip.

By Kerri

It's called ACTING!!!! You ACT deaf and blind. It's for entertainment. Keep your politics out of it!!

By Wimpy

Broadway shows only happen with financial backers who believe in a profit, therefore picking the best people to maximize that profit. This way this important story is told again and again.

However, perhaps a bit more sensitivity, human kindness and inclusion in the process would go a long way with this challenged community the play is about, especially when Helen was such an activist in her own right. Perhaps at the end of the show some small spotlight for the hearing and visually challenged is called for as a reminder that the play actaully is about this issue. Thanks.

By aargh

So why use actors at all? Why not use the real people to portray themselves? That way nobody could complain (and the play would be a flop)

By GetReal

What a whiney people we have become...Its no wonder our country is going down the tubes. Gimmy, Gimmy, Gimmy...I want, I want, I want...

By me

Ok so you are telling me blind/deaf should play blind/deaf parts right? Well. I guess drug addicts should play drug addicts and fat people should play fat rolls and not fat suits and so on. This is just the most retardest thing I ever read.

By john dumas

In her next role she will play young Rosa Parks in black-face.

By dsherline

In this day and age there is always going to be someone, some group or alliance that's going to complain about anything and everything that doesn't suit them or their agendas, regardless of how unrealistic that may be. This is a classic example.

By Cheryl

So then we need to cast real life psychos, killers, rapists, vampires..etc for any film or show from now on?????

By HaroldSue

I agree with the previous comments about the whole purpose of "acting", the need for fiscal responsibility of a producer to the backers of a show, and also the need for certain members of the blind/deaf community to choose their battles more wisely. Helen Keller was still alive when I was in high school, and although I greatly admired her, I recall that her political and religious opinions were way out in left field. What i recall even more so was that—try as hard as I might—I couldn't understand a word that she said due to her severe speech impediment! If blind/deaf community activists wanted a truly accurate portrayal of the woman on stage, the audience probably would be saying, "Huh?"

By joanne

It is called "acting", not being yourself.

By mkayrich

I ultimately agree with the producers. In these financial times especially - without a star, the show closes fast. However, I think it's a more complex issues than many of the commenters on here seem to think. I know several deaf actors who are very talented and capable. As long as there is a sign intepreter, there is no need to ever "slow down" a rehearsal process for them. For more than 90% of roles out there, a deaf actor is generally not a fit. Now here comes probably the best role that is a deaf character, and a deaf actor is not cast. I understand the frustration. And why are there no deaf or blind actors who "fit the bill" of being a star in the first place? Because Broadway and Hollywood are not very imaginative when it comes to casting. Art will be much more interesting when more artists embrace "alternative" casting.

By Qacidee

It's called "acting" for a reason. They can't be serious. If you were to go by them basically handicapped, physical or mentally, should only be playing roles of a truly handicapped person. Role with characters that have cancer or some type of disease should only be played by actors that have that in real life as well. Since when does a person's real life situation have to match the characters they play? If that were the case, we would have so much less shows to go to and actors will be extremely limited in any work available to them.

By robert

One think that is touched on but no one is saying outright. A play is too fast paced and done in front of a live audience, they can not afford to have and actress who misses her cues.

When people have paid a lot of money and planned a big trip to NewYork and have chosen this play for there possibly once in a life time Broadway experience they don't want it messed up because the actress did not see or here a cue..If they make another movie of this story then I could see the gripe. Scenes can be reshot and they can more just off camera crews to get the attention of the girl playing the part, and the a film will be edited to cut out missed cues and such but you can not edit a Broadway play, the blind and deaf community need to think this thru and yes as sais pick battles that make sense.

By Charlie

Wait a minute, so now it is ok for other people to represent your class? Silly me, I forgot that only applies when running for political positions.

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