Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-05-27
DRAMA FOR DEAF
MUTES OF AMERICA
WISCONSIN SCHOOL AT DELAVAN
DEVELOPS NEW FORM OF
STAGE PRODUCTIONS.
NEWER THAN "NEW THEATER."
Classic and Modern Plays Given in Sign
Language with Success for First
Time in History.
COMPANY MAY TOUR THE STATE

DELAVAN. Wis. May 24.-[ Special ]
"A new theater' that will overshadow
the New theater Of New York not alone
in it's novelty but in the idea of uplift,
is being developed at the Wisconsin
School for the Deaf in this city under
the personal direction OF Supt. E. W.
Walker.
For the benefit of the deaf mutes Of
Wisconsin and later those of the entire
country, methods of presenting the clas-
sic and modern drama are being changed
and IN a short time it is expected that
the unfortunates without hearing or
power of speech will be able to enjoy the
stage as fully and with the same under
standing Of those who hear and speak.
New Field for the Drama.
The newer theater' idea grows out of
the novel theatrical performance given at
the state school here some weeks ago
Shakespeare Tanning of the Shrew'
was presented in the gn language by
the students, assisted by instructors The
cOstuming was done with fidelity, Mil
Waukee costumer's assistance being re-
CURED. The performance was SO salts
factory and the idea so practicable that
1t suggested the development of a new
field of the drama
Negotiations are already under way for
the rights to use the best of the mod
ern plays, while the classics will be IN
students Of the school-deaf mutes-and
members Of the faculty will appear in
the casts and the actors will read their
lines in the sign language.
Deafnutes May Enjoy Stage.
is
possibilities of the new form of Drama ~
said Supt. Walker today. Not only does
It's success. so far as we have developed
the idea, show an exceptionally high or
der Of progress among the students who
take part in the productions, which will
include all OF the students in time-but
it is an excellent educator for them and
gives the deaf mutes of the country an
opportunity to enjoy the stage.
Since the original 'sign-language per-
Torrance of Tanning of the Shrew.' we
have received hundreds of letters COM
mending the idea and suggesting 50 many
things that we hardly KNOW which to
adopt first
May Tour the State.
1T has been suggested that we make
tour of the larger cities of the state
during the summer vacation. playing to
audiences of deaf mutes. This would not
rob any OF the students of time to do the
school work. | am positive that troupe
of this kind would draw immense houses
because Of the novelty and then because
Of the desire of deaf mutes to become ac-
quainted with the drama in way that
gives them all there is in it.
However, we have not decided ex-
actly what viii be done. The students
have taken hold of the idea with great
fervor and we have difficulty in restrain
ing some of the most enthusiastic ones
from devotiug all their spare time to the
study and preparation of plays"
At Delavan the sign-language plays
are presented in the big assembly hall of
gymnasium of the new girls building
measuring 1O0x54 feet and capacious
enough to accommodate audiences of
from 500 to $50 people.