Can anyone give me tips on how to play a
blind person in a play I am going to audition for. The play is "Wait Until Dark". It is about a blind woman being terrorized by thugs. I may have to show I can play a blind person.

I would appreciate any help. Thanks so much.

Maria

My young daughter just played a blind girl for a NYFA student film. An adult in the film was blind and it was our first time interacting on such a personal level with someone who is blind. It was a wonderful experience. Some of the "tricks" are common sense. Do not move your eyes, instead turn your head towards the sound; your ears act as your eyes. Pick a spot and stare at it and also look straight ahead and slightly downward. Try to keep your blinking to a minimum. Your hands can tell you a lot. The woman in the film gently touched my daughters costume and could identify the lace, feathers and other features. She also identified a cracker by its shape. When walking, (are you using a stick?) we were told to angle your right foot to about 1:00 and shuffle it forward. Your left foot can then take a normal step because the path has been safely identified by the right foot. Also, if you have to pick something up off of a table or from the ground, don't let your head instinctively drop to "see" what you're doing. My daughter landed the part because at the audition, she had to tie my shoe. Instead of looking down, she stared at my knee while she tied it. If you're brave enough, blindfold yourself and practice around your home. Try to identify items and then remove the blindfold and retrace your steps practicing being blind. These are "tips" that were shared with us by the director, I don't know how accurate they might be. Good luck and I hope my comments helped!

Hi Maria,

I have both directed and acted in Wait Until Dark, and it remains one of my favorite plays. Here are some tips and lessons we learned.

Your rehearsal space must reflect the set exactly. This is Susy's home and she knows it foot by foot... If it's 12 steps from the couch to the sink, you must take 12 steps every time, make sense? She finds her way easily around it. She only picks up a cane when she is about to go outside.

Rehearsing blindfolded is good for awhile but don't rely on it. It tends to make you want to close your eyes, a habit which you will then have to break later. When walking, pick a spot and walk straight ahead, only turn your head if you hear something to distract you. This is actually a good exercise, and we worked it at rehearsals, having our Susy walk back and forth across the space, turning her head only when someone made a noise to either side. What we learned is that most people don't always turn the right way at first but she would.

Looking ahead also lets your peripheral vision glance down. Blind people DO blink and they DO move their eyes. Spend some time talking to one if you can. You will find they are usually looking in the direction of your face, where they hear the sound from, when you speak. Very few do the Stevie Wonder bobble head thing.

Wear shin guards. Our Roat left a chair half a foot out of position and I'll be damned if our Susy didn't walk right into it and fall over it. He felt so bad, he brought her coffee every night for the rest of the run. This could save you some money!

Finally, for your actual audition, try this... we never focus on the auditors during a song or monologue, right? Shift your focus a little off intentionally, especially over the head of the one who has done the most talking. Keep your focus a little 'off', and when they speak, pause a beat and then focus as if locating them. That's what won ours her part.

Break a leg!

Thanks to both of you for all your help. I am taking all your advice into consideration and I am going to practice a lot. The audition is in December and I'm really looking forward to it.

If you wear glasses/contact lenses, I would take them off while performing or rehersing and you'll be half way there and that might help.