Casting A Deaf Actor As The Who’s Tommy (Why Didn’t Anyone Think Of This Before?)

“‘I call this ‘The Metaphor Strikes Back,” says [director Suzanne] Richard of ‘the deaf, dumb and blind kid,’ as the ‘Pinball Wizard’ lyrics un-gently describe the traumatized title character of Pete Townshend’s seminal rock opera. ‘I think it’s time for the metaphor to get a dose of what the real experience of disability is like.'”