Wednesday, February 5, 1997
THEATER:
Sign language, spoken words give hearing audiences Shaw in
stereoBy Alicia Cheak
Daily Bruin Contributor
At first, a conversation with actors Ed Waterstreet and Linda
Bove seems a little awkward, given that they communicate through
sign language with a voice interpreter. But soon the barriers
dissolve and it’s easy to see how articulate and expressive sign
language can be.
The husband and wife team will bring such conversations to the
stage as part of the Deaf West Theater’s production of George
Bernard Shaw’s "Saint Joan," which runs through March 9.
Shaw in sign language? One has difficulty merely reading the
play. Bove, who plays Saint Joan, admits that the role was a
challenge.
"It’s a satire of people in power with the military, political
and the religious authorities and a young woman in the middle of
it," says Bove. In the play, Joan offends the Church with her
presumptuous claim to be a direct ambassador of God, and challenges
secular pride because she would rather fight for her country’s
freedom than settle for treaties. Many also considered Joan’s
behavior un-feminine. Shaw writes that Joan was the first
Protestant martyr, the first apostle of nationalism and the pioneer
of rational dressing for women.
If wit and irony are not enough, there is also the added
complexity of Shaw’s language.
"Shaw’s plays are full of words and words but the language is so
incredible and the more I work with it, the more I admire Shaw,"
Bove says.
Bove explains that adapting a work is always a challenge, but
the added difficulties of sign language and a different time period
require real creativity.
"There’s a lot of work behind the translation process because
the meaning or conceptual equivalent could be lost unless the
person is highly skilled in translation," Bove explains.
She gives an example. "I can’t use the usual sign for ‘time’
because it’s a reference to a watch, but they didn’t have watches
back then. So I have to define time in the form of a sundial."
Waterstreet, Deaf West’s artistic director, agrees that extra
work must be put in, especially since signing and speaking actors
share the stage. Staging becomes intricate, but the result is a
powerful marriage between sign language and spoken word.
"The benefit for the hearing audience is that you have the
visual of the sign language and the auditory of the language,"
Waterstreet says.
"It’s double hit, like the hearing person gets inside the deaf
person’s head and is voicing what the deaf person is expressing.,"
Waterstreet continues.
Bove and Waterstreet definitely do not have to worry about a
lack of communication. In fact, they captivate both on and off
stage. Watching them converse with skillful hand manipulations and
facial expressions is reminiscent of a silent movie, one wonders
why words are even needed at all.
When "Saint Joan" was put forward as a possible production,
Waterstreet jumped at the chance to direct it. His direction of
"Medea" in 1995 won the theater numerous awards, but "Saint Joan,"
in addition to being a classic piece of work, had an added claim to
his heart.
"For many, many years, I think I’ve had it in the back of my
head. I always loved ‘Saint Joan’ and when I read the play, I was
fascinated with the material," Waterstreet explains. "It’s an
incredible story about a young woman who had such an impact on
history."
"Saint Joan" is Shaw’s version of Joan of Arc, the French patron
saint and national hero who successfully led France in the Hundred
Years’ War against England, only to be burned at the stake for
heresy and witchcraft.
"I feel that Joan has such great common sense and that’s what’s
offensive but it also keeps her going," Bove says. "When you’re
young you believe in some things and you believe in them strongly.
You do the things you feel are right."
Bove admits sharing the same stubbornness and fighting spirit of
the young heroine she portrays.
"Mainstream theater is not very open to deaf actors," Bove says.
"There doesn’t seem to be any communication. I don’t understand why
I can’t play the role and they don’t understand how I can. But I
just keep fighting, I keep going on."
But for all the courage and strength her actor and character
have in common, a monologue about loneliness which Joan gives at
the end of the inquisition is Bove’s favorite.
"I feel at home with that. I don’t see loneliness in a negative
way. Loneliness gives you strength, so I know that I’m alone in the
business, that’s fine, I like that. I started young at that and
became comfortable with it."
Waterstreet, who plays the inquisitor, is likewise affected by
how the play parallels his life.
"When I make the decision in the play to send Joan to the fire,
there is an instance when I see Joan that I really get touched,"
Waterstreet confesses. "The way Joan behaves, it reminds me of
Linda and I keep thinking that in the context of the play, the
inquisitor should not be experiencing this."
Waterstreet and Bove have been married for 26 years and been
each other’s support.
"I understand Linda’s experience when she is out there in the
mainstream world." Waterstreet says. "Very often she will come home
and it’s tough and I know she’s lonely and frustrated and I try to
take care of her and encourage her."
Those who grew up watching Sesame Street will recognize Linda as
a regular on the show. But despite other acting jobs, the rigors of
Hollywood keep both returning to the community atmosphere of the
Deaf West Theater.
"We have Deaf West so that we can work, we can keep our craft,
show up" Bove explains.
"We don’t want to separate ourselves from the mainstream,"
Waterstreet adds. "We invite people to come and join us to share
the richness of culture and the beauty of our language."
THEATER: "Saint Joan," runs at the Deaf West Theater Company
through March 9. Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors. For
more information, call (213)660-4673.
The Friedberg Company
Linda Bove and Ed Waterstreet, a real-life couple, star as Joan
of Arc and inquisitor with sign language.