The Blind And Deaf Don’t Want To See (Or Hear) Abigail Breslin As Helen Keller

lea322
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 04:55 pm: [report]

It’s only wrong if it’s wrong for heterosexuals who aren’t HIV positive to be in “RENT”, or for women who aren’t witches to be in “Wicked”.

giselle_latte
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 05:28 pm: [report]

Why pick an Oscar nominated actress when we can go with someone who can’t see their mark or can’t hear their cues?!  Brilliant!

Vanessa1112
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 05:58 pm: [report]

I’m going to go out on a limb here, but isn’t that what acting is about - being able to portray a character (fictional or nonfictional) that isn’t who you are? Was the gay community upset that Eric McCormack wasn’t gay, even though he played “Will” in “Will and Grace?” I understand why they would be upset, but a good actor is a good actor, and should be recognized as such!

TotallyRidiculous
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 07:53 pm: [report]

Hold the phone, there is this word on the of my tongue.  A word for when a person portrays someone else in things like plays and movies…what is that called?  Oh.  Yeah.  Acting.

Squidtermz
wrote on October 30 2009 @ 11:05 pm: [report]

I think it is wrong, being deaf and blind, especially as a child, and a symbol for those striken with these handicaps; is alot different from being HIV positive and witches. Well HIV is a disease, and witches arent real. Hate to break it to you lea322, but you could prove me wrong.

Ticket sales don’t make art. Money as motivation always harbors the creative process. Catering to far too many hands. There’s hunger, and there is greed. Those that hunger and strive make the best art. While those contempt, tend to lay around.

Let’s hope Abagail (who let’s face it, can’t carry a flick outside of en an ensemble) will use this scrutiny to pull of a daring and standout performance. I still don’t think I’m gonna rush out to see it. And, Jamie Foxx ain’t blind and he played Ray Charles. And Marlee Matlin is the only handicapped of this nature I recall to have any real success acting. 

But I guess Helen Keller is more of a figure for their young community to thrive upon. So I do understand this. It really should’nt be monetized this way, but also not scrutinized for this either. She should have fair screen tests with deaf and blind children to see who can pull it off better. Ha!

Helen Keller History Lesson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3hs8wbHxB8

Ginger
wrote on October 31 2009 @ 12:21 pm: [report]

It’s not like being deaf or blind if a wholly visual thing, like having someone play a different race. It’s something people can act without (I would hope) making it look like an offensive caricature.
If the director and producers completely discounted the idea of casting anyone blind or deaf, then there would be a problem and I would be behind this argument.

goofyjj
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 12:42 pm: [report]

please somebody let me know the names the most recognizable actors that are both blind and deaf?

I do not think this is offensive.  as others said “its acting”.  I remember the Mexican community getting upset that Jennifer Lopez (who is Puerto Rican) played Selena in the biopic.  Until they saw the movie and thought it was pretty good.

she’s an actress give her a chance.  she is not carrying the play.  it’s not a one actor show

TinaLish
wrote on November 3 2009 @ 02:19 pm: [report]

I think the measure of an actor’s talent shouldn’t be placed upon the opportunities they have yet to accomplish.  Abagail is an amazing actress, and she’s still young.  I’m sure she understands that to have the chance to portray a person such as Helen Keller, knowing the kind of person she was, and how many people admired her, that she will give this part justice.

Saying someone from the blind/deaf community should portray Helen Keller instead of someone like Abagail, is like saying that a real serial killer should portray a serial killer on death row. 

Like others have previously stated, an actor is just that, acting.  They are portraying someone else through the art of someone else’s interpretation of that character.

So I think we should just give Abagail a chance before assuming she’s not worthy of a role, more than likely she’ll end up blowing all of us away.  And who knows?  Maybe this role will be her defining moment…

Perceptible
wrote on November 4 2009 @ 09:54 am: [report]

No matter what you do, someone, somewhere, will be offended by it. We just hear about it more when they are celebrities. If everyone would just get over themselves, we’d all be better off. Then again, what would we have left to talk about?

Alliance
wrote on November 4 2009 @ 04:33 pm: [report]

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