Wait Until Dark #2
10/7/09
I’ve been doing some research on what it’s like being blind. I never thought too deeply on the subject till now and I’m starting to discover just how terrifying it can be to lose your sight....
If you take just a minute or two to close your eyes and try to walk around your house, you’ll realize very quickly what a different world it is to live in darkness. Of course, most unsighted people are not living in 100% blackout, most do see shades of light and etc.
My niece assisted me as I experimented walking out to my car with my eyes closed. She was only there to warn me if I
was going to bump into anything. The
first thing I realized was how difficult it is to get around without a cane. Of
course, it seems so logical, but if you’ve never tested out blindness,
you wouldn't know the amount of security a cane can provide. Seeing
nothing but black made me feel terribly isolated, not to mention vulnerable,
and all the while my niece was standing only a few feet away! I was prompted
to learn more about the emotional effects one would go through after losing
their vision. After all, my character lost her sight only a year or two ago.
What I learned was that adjusting to sight loss is like the stages of bereavement: feelings of
panic and distress, followed by devastation and depression, before finally
coming to terms with sight loss. This is because sight loss dramatically
changes a person's way of life, cutting short activities that bolster feelings
of self-worth and quality of life. Not being able to drive is an obvious major
blow, adding to a general loss of independence that is a big factor in the onset
of depression. I think Susy is dealing with much more than just being terrorized
by a few thugs who are after a doll stuffed with herion. She’s dealing with
undiagnosed depression, since psychological issues were pushed under the rug
even as little as 40 years ago. This play takes place in 1966.
I’ve had a few days off from rehearsal so I’ve
had a lot of time to get very familiar with Act I. I’m pretty much off book. Hopefully this coming week’s rehearsals will be smooth! I can’t wait to start
rehearsing blind folded!