Pictures in the Air

January 3, 1994
The development of the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is recounted here by Baldwin, an advocate of the hearing-impaired. Spanning a period from 1959 to the present, the book begins with the author's serendipitous meeting with a deaf actress, Phyllis Frelich, and their collaboration on the breakthrough play, Children of a Lesser God. In recounting the struggles of the fledgling theater to reach a wider public, Baldwin reflects on the contributions of performers such as Anne Bancroft, whose role as the teacher of Helen Keller in the play The Miracle Worker promoted public consciousness of sign language as an expressive medium. Noting the distinction between theater of and for the deaf, as well as controversy among advocates of signing and of oralism, Baldwin emphasizes the inclusionary nature of NTD, particularly in the ways established plays are adapted to suit its performance style. ``About 90% of the audience is comprised of non-signing hearing people,'' he states. This history of a special group that grew into a major acting company is a tribute to intercultural achievement. Photos.

February 1, 1994
This is a comprehensive study of the internationally acclaimed National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD). A showcase for deaf talent, NTD has not only given actors like Linda Bove and Phyllis Frelich a means of practicing their craft (and eventually entering America's mainstream theater), but has been a vehicle for first-rate theater for deaf and hearing audiences alike. A chapter of great interest deals with the unique communication style of deaf actors: American Sign Language, which is a language in its own right that is not only functional but beautiful. By tracing the history of NTD from its frustrating early years of searching for financial backing through its expansion into a worldwide program of renown, Baldwin presents a well-researched and -documented study. As the first history of this artistic repertory company to date, Pictures is essential for most theater collections. --Diane H. Albosta, Episcopal H.S. Lib., Alexandria, Va.