Using its signature, award-winning combination of signed and voiced theater to bring new perspective to a modern American classic, Deaf West Theatre presents “Flowers for Algernon” at the Whitefire Theatre, now through November 3, 2013.
Matthew McCray directs David Rogers’ stage adaptation of Daniel Keyes’ moving novel about an intellectually disabled man who undergoes experimental surgery to increase his IQ to the level of genius.
Poignant, funny and thought-provoking, “Flowers for Algernon” is the story of Charlie Gordon (Daniel N. Durant), a willing subject of an extraordinary experiment, and the strange interweaving of his life with Algernon, a mouse whose intelligence has been increased threefold by the daring new procedure. When the operation is performed on intellectually disabled Charlie, his mental capacity changes and so does his life.
Suddenly, Charlie (voiced by Josh Breslow) must deal with his blossoming love for his former teacher (Hillary Baack); the uncovered memory of how he was treated as a child by his mother (Sarah Lilly) and sister (Crystal Lott); the complications that arise when his own intelligence exceeds that of his employer (Melanie H. Vansell) and his doctors (Charles Katz, Bruce Katzman and Alek Lev); and conflicting emotions regarding his own former, childhood self (voiced by Sean Eaton).
“ASL will be the visual embodiment of the high IQ that Charlie achieves,” says Deaf West artistic director David J. Kurs. “As Charlie’s IQ grows, his signing will become ever more fluent and beautiful, until he is creating pictures in the air.
In Deaf West’s production, deafness becomes a metaphor for the ongoing “disability vs. difference” debate.
“Flowers for Algernon” performs 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through November 3. General admission is $30; a $20 “back to school” special is being offered the first three weeks of performances for students with a valid ID (through October 13); and there will be one pay-what-you-can performance on Sunday, October 13. Call 818-762-2998 (voice) or visit www.deafwest.org.
The Whitefire Theatre is located at 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. There is ample street parking. The theater is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible.