Gloria Rosen was a hearing child who grew up in a deaf household. Her autobiographical account of that singular experience, Listen…Can You Hear Me Now?, just closed at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Rosen, who also performed the piece, was "the listener" for her parents, the link between them and the hearing world. A grey-haired woman now, she looks back on that time with a mixture of exasperation and fondness. It was a big burden for a child to carry, always struggling to communicate with parents who had stubbornly refused to learn sign language. The shouting and gesticulating turned the household into something of a war zone.
At the same time, though, the battle toughened her, gave her the strength and power to cope with just about anything life threw at her. She also came to appreciate the pride and camaraderie of the deaf world, the Us-against-Them mentality that serves them so well.
A big part of Rosen's monologue deals with the many ways the hearing world drives deaf people crazy. Turning one's head while conversing is one: it makes lip-reading impossible. Refusing to lower the radio or TV is another. The list goes on, which explains why Rosen's father called all hearing people stupid.
Rosen's bittersweet, touching monologue has been well-directed by Michael Leoni, who keeps things moving along in crisp, effective fashion.
