Two years go, Monica Nelson received an invitation to The Miracle Worker, a play by Vancouver Playouse Theatre Company about deaf-blind author and political activist Helen Keller.
It wasnt just any invitation. It was the first one to live theatre that she could accept.
Nelson is legally blind and Vancouver Playhouse had signed up for KickStarts (The Society for Disability Arts and Culture) VocalEye, an audio description service for blind theatre-goers. Wearing an earpiece linked to a transistor radio-sized closed-cirquit FM receiver, Nelson learned what was going on in between the dialogue. The experience led her to purchase tickets for several shows in Vancouver over the last two years.
Its fabulous, she said after a recent show. Theyre trained to describe things in more detail than your friend would have time to do.
Although the closure of Vancouver Playhouse is also being mourned by the visually impaired community, Vancouvers Arts Club is participating in the progrram.
In the 15 minutes prior to a show, participants hear live audio descriptions about the plays, set, props, characters, costumes, masks, program notes (credits) and the plot synopsis.Theres no time for such descriptions during the shows action, said Nelson, who added that knowing what the actors are wearing adds to the experience.
During the show, the live play-by-play began as Rick Waines, standing in the back with his masked microphone, quietly described the setting and actions to his private audience.
Waines, one of VocalEyes four trained describers, says the key to providing the best experience is to learn the script well and to speak concisely between they actors lines.When Im feeling more poetic about it, Im translating light into sound.
The choice of words is also important. The describers must help patrons laugh when the rest of the audience does (a tricky thing with physical comedy), and to not interpret for their audience. They might say, for example, that John lowers his head and frowns rather than John is sad.
At the end of a recent performance of Don Quixote in Surrey, the VocalEye crew added a Touch Tour for the first time. It allowed the blind to come on stage and feel the masks, costumes, armour and props including Don Quixotes hobby-horse, the characters substitute for his knights horse.
I couldnt visualize that, even though it was described to me, Nelson said.
For more information or to reserve equipment for upcoming shows, visit VocalEye.org, call 604-364-5949 or email [email protected].
Upcoming VocalEye shows at the Arts Club Theatre, Stanley Stage (1585 Johnston St.):
The Importance of Being Earnest, April 8 at 2 p.m.
High Society, June 3 at 2 p.m.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Aug. 5 at 2 p.m.
For tickets, call 604-687-1644 or visit ArtsClub.com
