By Adrian Call
Sign language and voices combine as the notorious man in green tights takes the stage in a performance at BYU Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Signstage Theatre of Cleveland?s traveling company will present ?Robin Hood: Thief of Hearts? in English and American Sign Language simultaneously. While one actor signs the words, another speaks the same words in a performance that is fascinating to audiences, said Bill Morgan, artistic director for the theater.
?Young children are almost mesmerized by the sign language, like a moth drawn to a light,? Morgan said.
Signstage on tour performs at a variety of venues for children?s groups and others. Their performance brings an educational experience for hearing children and a once in a lifetime opportunity for many deaf individuals, said Erin LaFountain, administrative assistant for the theater.
?We have deaf children come who?ve never seen a performance in their lives,? LaFountain said. ?Now deaf people don?t have to look off to the side of the stage to see the interpreters. ? This time you?re able to watch the actors as well.?
LaFountain compared the performance to a ?ballet with words? instead of bodies.
?I could sign to you word for word in sign language, or I could create a visual picture,? she said. ?They?re trying to make an art out of the sign language as they are out of the theatrical performance.?
Suzy Brown, an Orem resident and mother of a deaf child said she thinks these kinds of activities are important.
?There isn?t very much out there as far as performance,? Brown said. ?Plays are difficult, even movies because it?s so far away he can?t read the lips.?
People aren?t always sympathetic to the needs of the deaf community, and Brown said it?s nice for her son when there are things he and his other deaf friends can do.
?In a lot of ways, people in the deaf community feel isolated,? she said. ?People just don?t realize what it?s like for them.?
Signstage?s mission is to create opportunities involving theater arts to educate children in diversity issues, like deafness, and help to deaf individuals improve their social and learning skills, according to the Signstage Theatre?s Web site.
Robin Hood and his fellow thieves will perform on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. The cost is $9 to the general public, $6 for students and children. All seats for the matinee are $5.