The blind and deaf communities are not rejoicing after the announcement that Abigail Breslin has signed on to play Helen Keller in the upcoming Broadway revival of “The Miracle Worker.” Why? Simply put, she’s not blind or deaf. Advocacy groups feel strongly that the production should consider using an actress from the blind or deaf community because of the larger human and artistic issues at stake. But the producers of the show are not interested in humanity. They are interested in ticket sales—they feel that their primary responsibility is to ensure the commercial success of the production, and in this economy it could take an actual miracle worker to have a wildly successful show without a star. But if it’s any consolation … they will try their best to find a blind or deaf understudy for the part. So what do you think? Is it wrong for Abigail Breslin to land the role of Helen Keller? [PopEater]
