Whispers of a Savage Sort, And Other Plays About the Deaf American Experience

"Oh, why canrs"t the deaf community be more like a family?" is the plaint of a character in Raymond Luzcakrs"s title playWhispers of a Savage Sort. It also goes far in characterizing the main thread that runs through his remarkable collection of work offered in this new volume.Whispers of a Savage Sort and Other Plays about the Deaf American Experiencepresents a progression of plays that depict Deaf people in situations well-known by the communityrs"s members. Written to be signing-driven, these plays feature Deaf characters from the various strata of Deaf society. Each play centers on different yet equally familiar issues. Snootybrings to life the difficulties of surviving the social pecking order in a deaf residential school. The main characterrs"s only escape is a rich fantasy life in which he is in control.Doogleconfronts its characters with the intrusion of technological communication devices parallel to the virtually forced intimacy of such a small, close community. Brought into stark focus by the specter of AIDS,Love in My Veinsexplores how trust, betrayal, and ultimately forgiveness can transform a Deaf couplers"s love for each other in a Deaf community. The collectionrs"s eponymousWhispers of a Savage Sortreveals the relentless damage that rumor and innuendo can do to a diverse group of Deaf individuals. The emotions, identities, and consequences created by Luzcak in these dramas illuminate the Deaf American community in fascinating detail rarely seen in any medium today.