Deaf Is.. Arts and Culture / Performing Arts
In this clip, notice how the actors are all positioned so that they can all see each other and so that the audience can see each of them as well. When any dialogue happens in a signed play, it is important for all the players as well as the viewers to see what is being signed. Each character must know their lines and when to deliver them, so that the dialoge can be followed and understood.
In this clip, Thomas Gallaudet teaches Alice how to spell her name. Alice is amazed that all those letters make her name and that the word is a symbol for her.
Alice is very excited to learn how to spell her name and quickly learns how to make the letters herself.
She shares what she has learned with her father who is also very excited.
Gallaudet is pleased to see that, even though Alice is deaf, she can learn about words and their meanings.