Sweet Nothing in my Ear (play)

Sweet Nothing in my Ear is a play in two acts for 4 men, 5 women, and 1 boy. "This is not a "deaf" play. It's a play with deaf and hearing characters. In performance, it must be accessible to both a deaf and hearing audience at the same time. It requires a seamless blend of American Sign Language and spoken English. The two happen simultaneously through the performance of the play. The role of Dan requires a hearing actor who signs well. As a hearing man in a deaf family, he is called upon to interpret speech into sign language, "voice" ASL into speech, or switch his voice off completely and purely sign. Whenever Dan is alone with any member of his deaf family, he would only sign and not use his voice (unless indicated). All the deaf characters of the play - Laura, Max, Sally, Adam, Dr. Walters - use only American Sign Language. They are simultaneously "voiced" or "voice acted" from the side of the stage by a member of the company. When Dan switches off his voice and purely signs, he is simultaneously "voiced" by a company member. The company must be four hearing actors who sign. They sit on the periphery of the stage, never leaving, throughout the play. They perform three functions: to "voice" the actors who sign, to sign the actors who speak and to step forward as the supporting players. Deaf audience member experience this play signed entirely in their language. Hearing audience members - most who know nothing about sign language - have the experience of watching the play in sign language while hearing it acted at the same time. Two languages become one." - Stephen Sachs ^[1]

Plot

Laura is a deaf teacher.
Dan is her hearing husband.
Adam is their deaf son.
Max is Laura's father who is deaf.
Sally is Laura's mother who is deaf.
Dr. Walters is a deaf therapist.
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Dan and Laura are a married couple who have son named Adam. At age four Adam loses his hearing, which leaves Laura and Dan deciding how to handle this situation. A decision many parents face when they have a child who is born or becomes deaf, Laura and Dan are torn on whether or not to implant their child with a Cochlear Implant. Laura feels there is nothing wrong with her son being deaf and does not see it as a disability, where as Dan feels giving Adam the Cochlear Implant will give him the best opportunity to live a "normal" life. Dan researches more about Cochlear Implants and its procedure, but this research only makes Laura not want it even more, while Dan still thinks it is the best option for Adam. They continue to be at odds over the decision, which brings about more issues dealing with Deaf pride, Deaf culture, and ethical issues of Cochlear Implants. <^[3]/>

Cast

Sweet Nothing in my Ear was originally produced by Deborah Lawlor and Jesica Korbman for The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, June 1997. It was directed by Stephen Sachs, set design by Sets to Go; costume design by J. Kent Inasy; slide projections were created by Evan Mower; and the production stage manager was Jesica Korbman.
The cast was as follows:
Laura - Terrylene Sacchetti - Voice by Jennifer Massey
Dan - Bob Kirsh - Voice by John Benitz
Adam - Gianni Manganelli - Voice by Elizabeth Barrett
Max - Bernard Bragg - Voice by Cal Bartlet
Sally - Freda Norman - Voice by Elizabeth Barrett
Dr. Walters - Vikee Waltrip - Voice by Elizabeth Barrett

In March 1998, it was produced at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago by Simon Levy for The Fountain Theatre and MT Productions. It was directed by Stephen Sachs; set design by Sets to Go; costume design by Kristine Knanishu; lighting design by Joel Moritz; sound design by Lindsay Jones; slide projections were created by Evan Mower; and the production stage manager was Meredith Scott Brittain.
The cast was as follows:
Laura - Liz Tannebaum-Greco - Voice by Jennifer Massey
Dan - Philip Lester - Voice by John Benitz
Adam - George Scott Kartheiser - Voice by Elizabeth Barrett
Max - Chuck Baird - Voice by Cal Bartlet
Sally - Vikee Waltrip - Voice by Elizabeth Barrett
Dr. Walters - Ralitsa - Voice by Elizabeth Barrett
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References