Act II. Scene 7. "As You Like It", Perkins Institution
Act II. Scene 7. "As You Like It", Perkins Institution
Item Information
Title:
Act II. Scene 7. "As You Like It", Perkins Institution
Description:
Act II, Scene 7 of the play "As You Like It" performed at the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the blind in South Boston. Description of the performance from the 1904 Annual Report of the Perkins School for the Blind: While the larger theatres have had their manifold attractions this week, a more select and unusual pleasure was enjoyed by those who saw and heard in the fine new hall of the Perkins Institution at South Boston, Shakespeare's comedy, "As You Like It," performed by two dozen boys of that school for the blind. Many have seen blindness imitated on the stage by actors and actresses, and it is always pathetic, but here was actual blindness assuming the attitudes and playing the active parts of that beautiful drama. Two of the characters, Robinson, who played Charles the wrestler, and Everett Davison, who was Touchstone, have sight enough to guide them about the stage; but most of the others are quite blind. The wrestler had light enough to be properly overcome by Barnard Levin, who played Orlando; and Touchstone could dimly see to guide his dancing steps and show him Audrey munching apples; but the wonder was to see the others taking their positions properly and giving the effect of seeing what they were showing us. This was the result of long training, and surprisingly good was also their training in the elocution and spirit of the play, while their rendering of the songs, "Under the Greenwood Tree" and "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind," was much better than is commonly heard on the stage in this piece,-music, vocal and instrumental, being the specialty of this school ever since Dr. Howe established its system seventy years since.
